Minnie Oleta Harris
Minnie Oleta (Harbuck) Harris, a woman of deep faith, tireless work ethic, and a heart large enough to hold generations of family, passed away peacefully at her home in Hugo, Okla., on Dec. 19, 2025. Known fondly by her childhood nickname “Baby Girl,” a title bestowed by her father that she carried with grace for over nine decades, Minnie leaves behind a legacy defined by service and sweetness.
Born Feb. 6, 1931 in the Moyers/ Antlers communities to Albert and Stella Harbuck, Minnie’s journey took her from the hills of southeast Oklahoma to the plains of the West. A proud 1949 graduate of Lookeba–Sickles High School, she often shared stories of her cherished senior trip to Washington, D.C., a highlight of her youth.
In August of 1949, Minnie married Raymond Eugene Harris. Together, they built a life centered on family and hard work. For years, they labored side-byside on various dairy farms across western Oklahoma, most notably at the Gordon Travis Dairy in Clinton. Whether she was milking Holstein cows or raising her children, Minnie approached every task with unwavering resolve.
Minnie was a woman of intellect and ambition; after life took unexpected turns, she took on all challenges head-on. She obtained her driver’s license later in life at the age of 38, and she rose to be a capable career woman. Over the years, she owned and operated a successful convenience store on I-35 just south of the Frontier City amusement park, and she worked as a “Kelly Girl,” capably filling in various secretarial positions all over the OKC area. In 1973, she went to work for the Choctaw Memorial Hospital and later the local Social Security Office in Hugo. She dedicated 15 years to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services at the State Capitol, and in a beautiful act of devotion, she eventually transferred to the Antlers office to care for her aging mother, retiring in 1996.
Her retirement was anything but quiet. For over 25 years, Minnie was a familiar face in her community as a decorated Avon Representative, winning numerous awards and forming lifelong friendships with her customers.
A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Hugo, Minnie’s Bible was her constant companion; she read it cover-to-cover multiple times throughout her life. She found joy in the simple pleasures: a blooming garden, her favorite CBS daytime soaps, and the excitement of The Price Is Right. However, her true sanctuary was the kitchen. Minnie was legendary for her Sunday roasts and her incomparable chocolate and coconut pies –– dishes that served as the centerpiece for many family memories. Minnie was the matriarch of a vast and loving family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her eight brothers: Olaf Henry Harbuck, Atward Jefferson Harbuck, Sr., Alfred Lee (A.L.) Harbuck, Kelcie Kermit Harbuck, Theodore “Dody” Harbuck, Floyd Harbuck, Farles Melton Harbuck, and John Wesley (J.W.) Harbuck; her three sons: Michael, Albert and Stephen Harris; and her grandson, Hugh Dale Pence, Jr.
She is survived by her sister, Loretta Elizabeth Kirksey in Wagoner, Okla.; her children: Carolyn Renee Pence (Hugh Dale, Sr.) of Hugo, Edward Melton Harris (and his loving puppy, Daisy) of the home, and Oleta Elizabeth Bryant (Ronny Michael) of Hugo; her daughters-in-law: Connie June Harris and Cindy Kay Harris; 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; and her dear neighbor and friend, Matilda Carr.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 in the Prater-Lampton-Mills & Coffey Chapel with Edwin Findley officiating and assisted by Mike Bryant. Burial followed in the Sugar Creek Cemetery.
The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Mayes Home Health, Dr. Mike Irvin, and the dedicated team of caregivers: Sherri, Madison, Lauren, Dawn, Misty, and Edwin –– who provided Minnie with comfort and spiritual support in her final days.
“Her children arise up, and call her blessed...” Proverbs 31:28
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