Louise (Mathews) Harris, 100, a long-time resident of McCook, Neb. passed away April 18, 2016 in Gallatin. For the past 12 years, she had made her home in Jameson with her n
iece, Sue (James) Brodt.
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Louise was born Nov. 21, 1915 near Gibbon, Neb. to Charles and Verna (Maurer) Mathews, the eighth of nine children. She graduated from Gibbon High School in 1933 and after securing a teaching credential, moved to McCook in 1935 and taught for two years in one-room schoolhouses (Devil’s Gap and Banksville) in Red Willow County. In 1937 she married Elmore Harris and they lived on the Harris family farm, about 15 miles southwest of McCook.
Louise was a long-time member of the 37th Star Chapter of the D.A.R., serving as historian; a member of the Nebraska Genealogical Society, serving as secretary. In 1990, she was recognized by the Southwest Nebraska Genealogical Society as “Genealogist of the Year.” She also volunteered at the Museum of the High Plains Historical Society in McCook. Her passion was genealogy. In 2006, after 25 years of research, she published her family history, “Recollections and Connections: [Mathews/Sigler/Maurer/Worley] from Ohio to Nebraska.”
She was preceded in death by her husband, Elmore, of 43 years; her parents; one sister, Lotta Ann (Jesse) Dutcher of Cambridge, Neb; seven brothers: Perry Bryan Mathews of Gibbon, Neb., Harvey Jennings Mathews of Gibbon, Neb., Franklin Delano (Adeline) Mathews of Clearwater, Iowa, Delmer Marion (Lyda) Mathews of Gibbon, Neb., Howard Vern (Nellye) Mathews of Grand Island, Neb., Clarence Bernard (Theresa) Mathews of Warden, Wash., and Alvah Lewis (Marge) Mathews of Pocatello, Idaho; one nephew, Marvin (Delores) Dutcher of Culbertson, Neb.; and one niece, Rose (Jon) Christensen of Bella Vista, Ark.
She is survived by five nieces: Margaret (Max) Amann of Cambridge, Neb., Colleen (Ed) Quick of Lawrence, Kan., Sue (James) Brodt of Jameson, Linda (Chris) Randall of Des Moines, Iowa, Helen (Jerry) Rowe of Edmonds, Wash.; a nephew, John (Terri) Mathews of Ephrata, Wash; numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews; and many cousins.
Louise donated her body to the University of Nebraska medical school for educational purposes. At her request, no service or visitation is planned. Cremains will be interred in Memorial Park Cemetery, McCook, Neb. Arrangements under the direction of McWilliams Funeral Home in Gallatin.