Emma Marie Harris

Emma Marie Hutchinson Harris, 99, died Jan. 1 at Elkview General Hospital in Hobart of pneumonia and sepsis.
Emma was a longtime Hobart resident, who was always proud to say she was from "Hobart, America."
She was born December 15, 1912, to Benjamin Waterson Hutchinson and Pearl Crocker Hutchinson at the Kiowa County family farm home on "Mockingbird Hill" in the Con 8 Community. She attended Consolidated 8 School. Emma was the eldest of eight children.
In December 1947, Emma married William Vernon Harris, who preceded her in death on November 27, 1995, after 48 years of marriage.
Emma was a remarkable person, who loved every minute of her life and was always ready to try new kinds of creative pursuits. During her early working years, she held jobs in manufacturing, retail sales, and worked as a bookkeeper. She spent many years as a homemaker and was active in Hobart church and civic affairs. She helped her husband, Vernon, in his farming and home-building enterprises
She was a voracious reader, loved to travel, acted in numerous Shortgrass Theatre productions, and enjoyed painting still life and landscape scenes. Emma was very active in the First United Methodist Church in Hobart, with major roles in the church women's groups, Sunday School, and youth fellowship programs. Emma was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and twice served as president of the local chapter. She also was a member of the Fortnightly Research Club.
Emma was a kind and gracious woman, and throughout her long struggle with dementia she worked hard to maintain her sense of self and her identity. And even on her final days, she thanked her caregivers and maintained her dignity. She was a model to all in her family.
Survivors include a son, Fred Polley (Virginia), of Arlington, Texas; a daughter, Susan Harris Sala (Ken) of Washington, D.C., and a daughter-in-law Barbara Polley of Cache, Okla.
Emma is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Paula McAllister (Dwight) of Lawton, Okla; Cindy Hughes (Leslie Waterson), Winchester, Va.; Tim Polley of Maine; John Polley (Karen), Toronto, Ontario; Bruce Polley (Caroline), Edmond, Okla; Rebecca Polley, Gaiburg, Germany; Sarah Polley Papert (Lee), Dallas, Texas; Elizabeth Hernandez (Carlos), Chula Vista, Calif.; Emily Sala of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Matthew Harris Sala, Washington, D.C. In addition, Emma had nine great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Other survivors include a brother-in-law James Harris (Lena) of Hobart; sister-in-law Peggy Harris of Hobart; brother-in-law Adron Harris, Lawton; sister-in-law Wanda Hutchinson of Weatherford, Okla., cousin Frank Hutchinson (Jeanie) of Rowlett, Texas, and cousin Alice McCollum, Oklahoma City. She also is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Vernon, she was preceded in death by her parents, her sons Johnnie E. Polley and Patrick Polley; and by her five brothers and two sisters.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Jan. 5 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Ray and Martha's Funeral Home, Hobart. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 6 at the First United Methodist Church in Hobart at 11 a.m., with interment at Hobart Rose Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the First Methodist Church, the Hobart Public Library, or the Shortgrass Theatre.