Jake Perper Harris

HARRIS, Jean Karen (Perper) January 17, 1948-January 12, 2003. Jean passed away quickly and quietly at home in Sierra Vista, Arizona early Sunday morning with her husband, Glenn Ferguson Harris, MD at her side. Jean will be remembered as a faithful and loving wife and dedicated mother to Sally Newman Nevil.

Jean was born to Lloyd Julian and Marian Eileen (Bowman) Perper in Dayton, Ohio. She moved with her family to Tucson, Arizona, where she attended junior and senior high school before pursuing higher education beginning at the University of California at Santa Barbara. A vigorous young woman, Jean was a dancer, a cheerleader, a Debutante, and a World-class gymnast. She was an excellent student who was able to study in Europe, Mexico and the United States.

Her career was focused on the mental health care of persons of all ages. Most recently she was a Member Advocate for the regional behavioral health authority in Tucson, Arizona, and a psychiatric hospital program director for Horizon Healthcare. Dr. Harris, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and Children's Medical Director for SouthEastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, was blessed to be able to share Jean's many talents.

Jean enjoyed road cycling with her husband and was a founder and first Vice President for Touring of the Cochise County Cyclists of the United States Cycling Federation, sponsors of La Vuelta De Bisbee. Jean enjoyed her road-racing bicycle but most loved riding on her tandem bicycle with her husband.
Jean is preceded in death by her mother and survived by her sisters, Susan Elizabeth (Perper) Nicholson and Ann Melinda Perper; her daughter, Sally Newman Nevil and her stepdaughter, Mina Elizabeth (Nevil) Smith of Eglin AFB, Florida. Jean was stepmother to Dr. Harris' children Andrew Ferguson Harris and Hannah Elizabeth Harris.

A Meeting as a Memorial service after the Manner of Friends will be held in Sierra Vista early in February 2003. The family requests no flowers, but encourages those who wish, to make donations in Jean's name to the Cochise County Cyclists, 10561 Paraiso Road, Hereford, AZ 85615.