Memorial Service at Gateway to Heaven on 11/25/23

Deronda Harris was born Deronda Lee Johnson on January 20, 1947 to Meredith and Francis Johnson of
Elwood City. She was the eldest of six children leaving three surviving siblings behind. Deronda later went on to graduate from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh and then to marry and have three children of her own. She was very close over the years with her sisters and brothers celebrating many birthdays, anniversaries, and family reunions. She did travel to many countries over the years with her husband; she loved traveling.

Family was very important to Deronda and a top priority for her. She always made sure her three kids, Paul, Tracy, and Heather were well taken care of and set up for success. Her children and grandchildren provided her with much happiness and a great deal of pride. All three of her children went on to college and have successful careers.

Deronda looked forward to the annual family reunions every year getting everyone from all around the US together to enjoy each other’s company. This allowed Deronda and her children to see her parents and their grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles as well as the significant spouses and the many nieces and nephews. This was a huge priority for Deronda, considering the distance among all family members
and allowing one week a year to be a celebration of family.

Deronda has two grandsons who have survived her, Shea and Quinn, born to Paul and his wife Erin. Visiting and watching the boys play sports were the highlights of her summer, holidays and vacations. She was very busy keeping up with their sports schedules traveling across country to spend Christmas together as well as every fall, spring, winter and summer watching their sporting events. Even when Covid and bad health entered the picture, she continued to follow her grandsons via live stream. They were a great joy to her. She would even save their voicemail messages to later replay and photos of her children and grandchildren were strewn across the house.  

Deronda’s favorite hobby was travel. She enjoyed seeing the world especially when a cruise was involved. She traveled with her friends and siblings but Deronda’s favorite daily activity was dressing up nice and going out to dinner; she loved to go out. Her youngest daughter, Heather, inherited this trait after years of enjoying these dinners with her and Jim as well as her fiancé, Jeremy.  

Speaking of dressing up nice, Deronda was very proud of her daughter Tracy’s fashion business and even had a clothing line of her own, “The Deronda Lee”, made and marketing by Tracy’s business.  We want to acknowledge our sincere gratitude to Tracy for her commitment and unselfish acts of the last 12 months taking great care of mom in Florida.  

Deronda was living her best life in Florida with the love of her life, Jim, in their dream house. They settled down in Jupiter Florida which was warm and cozy and often filled with many family members. Everyone took turns on holidays, spring and Christmas break to get on their calendar and go for a visit. At the end, she lived close to her middle daughter, Tracy who lived within an hour and would visit throughout the week. Her other two children, Paul and Heather, would make quick trips to see her as well. Her kids were her pride and joy and she enjoyed their company. 

Deronda died on September 12, 2023 in her home surrounded by her children with a lot of love and
support. She was a wonderful, generous mother who would do anything for her family and children and will be very missed by everyone.