Rhea Harris, 71, of Springfield
Funeral services are 11 AM, Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the United Church of Christ in Springfield. Burial is in the Springfield Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 until service time on Saturday. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Springfield is in charge of arrangements.

Rhea Harris was born August 27, 1941 in Martin, SD, the daughter of Mary "Ruby" (Estes) and Herman "Dutch" May. She died suddenly on Tuesday, October 9, 2012 at the Heritage Manor in Wakonda, after a brief illness. Rhea attained the age of 71 years, one month and 12 days.

Rhea was reared in the Springfield area after her mother developed a chronic illness and became hospitalized. She was seven years old when she, her father and her four younger siblings moved from a Long Pine, NE ranch to Springfield. Rhea attended school, mainly in Tyndall and Springfield. She worked as a telephone operator in Springfield during her teen years.

Rhea married Milton "Moxie" Harris and a daughter was blessed to their union. The family lived in Southern states, where her husband was a thermal engineer for Corningware Glass. While living on a small acreage outside of Louisville, KY, Rhea did volunteer work and enjoyed gardening. After Moxie's death in 1995, she moved back to Springfield and helped care for her father until his death on March 24, 2000.

Thankful for having shared her life are her daughter, Patricia Hamilton and husband Jim of Jefferson, IN; two grandsons: Brian and John; three siblings: James May of Yankton; Judeth Petersen of Gillette, WY; and William May of Sells, AZ; and several nieces and nephews. Rhea will be missed by her family, neighbors and friends, who will remember her gentle and caring personality.

Rhea was preceded in death by her parents, spouse and three siblings: Leo Hibray, Richard Hibray and John May.