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Rosemary (Rose) Diane Harris was born in Oregon City, Oregon on June 17, 1953, and passed away January 27, 2026, at the age of 72 with her family at her side. She was third born out of five children of Orpheus and Leola Steiber. As a child, she lived with her family in Oregon City and then Hood River, Oregon. She shared many fond memories of her time in Hood River, the friendships she made, and she loved the snowy wintertime with views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams out her windows. When she was twelve, they moved to Tillamook and she attended Tillamook Junior High School and her family was active in The Church of the Nazarene. Rose loved music and singing and would frequently sing in church and participated in many school musicals. As a teenager, she attended Tillamook High School and worked at a The Sweet Shop Bakery, Mr. Swiss Restaurant, and picking strawberries in the summer. She was a talented sewer and made most of her own clothes in her younger years. Rose graduated high school in 1971, attended Beauty School in Portland followed by Northwest Nazarene College in Idaho for a short time. Rose then returned to Tillamook and married her high school sweetheart, Mike Harris, on July 6, 1974, at the Tillamook Church of the Nazarene. They went on to raise two daughters and enjoyed many adventures as a family including camping, hunting and attending their daughters’ horse events. From a young age, Rose had a love for horses, and she was able to live out her dreams of having horses while raising her daughters and was also a 4-H Leader. Rose worked at the Tillamook Farmer’s Coop, Baertlein & Phegley CPA, and finally Tillamook County Tax Department before retiring in 2015. Rose enjoyed her work at the Tax Department, her co-workers, and the many connections she made around the State. She was admired by her colleagues and received several awards for her accomplishments.
After retirement, she and Mike enjoyed growing a large garden, watching their grandchildren grow and attending their many activities. She participated in Garden Club, Tillamook Community Chorus (along with her brother and sister-in-law) and enjoyed many girls’ getaways with her sisters where they would shop all day and stay up all night chatting. Rose was strong in her faith and enjoyed attending church at Ocean Breeze Baptist Church, as well as her bible study group where she developed cherished friendships. She always made family and friends a priority and will be deeply missed. She is survived by her daughters, Jerilee Blaser (Brent) and Christine Arthur (Brian); grandchildren Brynnen, Bridger, Aubrey and Easton; siblings Sonja Willie (Dan), Tom Steiber, Debi Fleisher (Charles) and Phil Steiber (Nikki), numerous nieces and nephews as well as an extended family of in-laws that were very special to her. She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Mike Harris, and her parents, Orpheus and Leola Steiber.
Rose was sweet, outgoing and very kind. A bright light to all that new her and she will be deeply missed. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy, and she was a devoted Mother and Grandmother.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Tillamook High School Charity Drive Junior or Senior class events, February 6 – 16, 2026.