Carolyn J Harris

HARRIS, Carolyn J. Carolyn J. Harris went home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 20, 2014. She was born December 27, 1948 in Iowa City, Iowa, daughter of the late Dorothy and George Harris. Carolyn is survived by her beloved son Carlos Gomez of Kalamazoo, Michigan; her sister Susan Ed Bukacek of Lincoln, Nebraska, her brother George Terry Gesulga Harris of San Francisco, California; her nieces Lisa Moore and Megan Lucey and Maya Harris, and her nephews Simeon and Blake Bukacek and Brian Harris. Carolyn graduated from Omaha Benson High School in 1967. She then attended Iowa State University where she was a member of Phi Beta Phi Sorority and graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts degree with a major in Spanish in 1971. Carolyn received her Licenciatura in 1975 from the La Universidad de Zaragoza Spain, and both her M.A. 1979 and Ph.D. 1984 from the University of Iowa. Carolyn began working at Western Michigan University in 1985. She worked as a Spanish professor, Spanish department undergraduate advisor, served on dissertation committees, WMU study abroad, among other areas in the department. Harris was recognized for her superior classroom skills when she was selected as a recipient of a WMU Alumni Association Teaching Excellence Award in 2002. At the time, she was one of only 129 University scholars to have received the honor in the award program's 35-year history. She was a specialist in contemporary peninsular literature and women's studies. Carolyn focused her research on 20th-century and current Spanish theater with an emphasis on women writers. Carolyn was a member of Centerpoint Church, where she served as Caring Elder, Kid's Hope mentor, and on the Healing Prayer Committee. She was a past Sunday school teacher and children's ministry volunteer. Carolyn had a heart for missions, and was active in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and for the past ten years, in Quito, Ecuador, where she was greatly loved. Carolyn loved her family, serving her Lord, teaching, and helping others in need. She was a gentle, kind, loving person who touched many lives and will be greatly missed. A service to celebrate Carolyn's life will be held at 4:00pm Tuesday, September 30 at Centerpoint, 2345 N. 10th Street. Friends may meet the family Tuesday from 2-4pm at the church. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kid's Hope through Centerpoint Church and/or Western Michigan University's Emeriti Scholarship in the Department of Spanish.