Shirley M. Harrness

SHELDON - Shirley M. Harrness, age 66, died Thursday, February 5, 2015 after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Sheldon.

Shirley was born in North Hampton, MA on October 9, 1948 the daughter of the late Audrey (Finn) Daniels.

She grew up and attended schools in North Hampton, MA and South Royalton, VT. On September 5, 1969 she married Stephen M. Harrness of Randolph and began the life of farming in Vermont. Shirley and Steve worked side by side on their farms in Randolph, Grand Isle and Enosburg Falls. They started milking 55 cows in Randolph, then grew to milking 100 in Grand Isle and reached 900 in Enosburg Falls.

When in Grand Isle, Shirley became active with the childrens school and PTA, Boy Scouts and 4-h Dairy. She was on the VT State 4-H Dairy Committee and chaperoned 4-H Dairy trips to Vermont fairs as well as Eastern States for many years.

Shirley leaves behind her husband of 45 years, Steve Harrness. In addition to Steve, she leaves 3 sons, Thomas and his wife Liza of Sheldon, Lawrence and his wife Mary Jane of Berkshire and Dennis of Sheldon. Shirleys grandchildren were her life, Jonathan, Anthony, Perry, Ryan, Makayla and Lawrence all survive her and she loved making her annual trips with them to the Great Escape, Santas Village and other fun places; she never went a day without her grandchildren around her.

Shirley also leaves behind her siblings, Jean Jones and her husband Bruce and Audrey Frary and her husband David all of South Royalton, Roland Daniels and his wife Wanda of Meriden, NH and Robert Daniels and his wife Allison of El Paso, TX; her family in Bethel, Debbie and Bill Richards and father-in-law, Mitchell Harrness; her dear, loving friends, Mary Mason of Enosburg Falls, Brenda Dupont of East Haven and Jackie Dragon of Franklin; Mary, Brenda and Jackie brought Shirley laughter, joy, support and a beautiful friendship. She also leaves behind numerous nieces & nephews who she loved and enjoyed. Besides her mother, Shirley was predeceased by her siblings, Mary Thurston and her husband Frank, Roberta Marcroft, Darlene Zonay and Mark Daniels; her mother-in-law, Corrine Harrness and brother-in-law, Gregory Harrness.

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, February 13, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Ave., Enosburg Falls, VT with Rev. Jason McConnell officiating. Interment will be held this spring in St. John the Baptist Cemetery in Enosburg Falls.

Friends are invited to a time of visitation at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 AM until the hour of the service.

For those who wish, contributions in Shirleys memory to the Franklin County Home Health Association, 3 Home Health Circle, St. Albans, VT 05478 or to the Vermont Make-A-Wish Foundation, 100 Dorset St., Suite 14, South Burlington, VT 05403.