Sarah B.B. Harris

December 13, 1939 – October 14, 2026

Sarah Beth Baswell Harris, 86, of Hot Springs, Arkansas, passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, two days before she and her beloved husband, Don, would have celebrated 68 years of marriage.

Sarah was born Dec. 13, 1939, in Malvern, Arkansas, to Nathan and Virgina Baswell. She graduated from Henderson State Teachers College in Arkadelphia. On Oct. 16, 1958, she married Don Harris in Hot Springs, where they made their home together.

Sarah devoted her career to education. She began teaching at a young age in the Mountain Pine School District, where she was loved by her students and kept in touch with many of them throughout her life. She later taught in the Hot Springs School District. Over the course of her career, she also served as a librarian and a media specialist, though in later years her family delighted in the irony that she had trouble with her iPhone. She was a founding member of PEO Chapter BJ in Hot Springs and was recently recognized for 50 years of service.

Faith, family and home were the center of Sarah's life. She attended Grand Avenue United Methodist Church from the time she was in the fourth grade and was a faithful servant there. For many years she was also part of Bible Study Fellowship, where she served as a group leader and was an inspiration to many. She was blessed with the gift of offering inspirational prayers, which she shared with her family up until her last meal.

A fine seamstress, Sarah sewed her family's clothes in the early years of her marriage. Her many and varied interests, including Master Gardeners, stained glass, calligraphy and watercolor painting, reflected her boundless curiosity and remarkable ability to excel in whatever she pursued. Sarah also enjoyed traveling with and supporting the senior softball community, where she and Don made many close friends. Her love of people endeared her to all who were blessed to know her.

She was predeceased by her parents and her grandson, Jessie Garrett.

She is survived by her husband, Don Harris; her daughter, Holly Beth Miller (Cameron); her son, Jeff Harris (Tami); her brother, Bill Baswell (Cindy); her sister, Becky Cordell; her grandchildren, Robert Maughan (Charlye) and Blane Irwin (Murphy); and her great-grandchildren, Malek Hearnsberger (Austyn), Joshua Harris, Brody Maughan (Haddee), Ty Maughan (Emma), Eden Maughan, and Harris Irwin.

Visitation will be from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, at Gross Funeral Home. The service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at Gross Funeral Home, with Pastor David Fleming officiating. Burial will follow at Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will be Robert Maughan, Blane Irwin, Malek Hearnsberger, Brody Maughan, Ty Maughan, and Nathan Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will be Cameron Miller, Josh Harris, and Jim Morrissey.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grand Avenue United Methodist Church or to the Jessie Garrett Memorial Scholarship at National Park College.

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