Mona Faye (Barnett) Harris, age 80, of rural Columbus, Kansas, died Friday, July 24, 2020 at her home. She had recently been in failing health. She was born, July 18, 1940, in rural Altamont, KS at farm home of her parents. She was the sixth of eight children born to Frank and Violet (Davidson) Barnett.

Mona, a former Parsons, KS resident, attended rural Labette County schools and graduated from Labette Community High School in 1958. She graduated from the Mount Carmel School of Nursing in Pittsburg, KS in 1961, and in taking the statewide registered nursing test, she and her roommate got the highest test scores in the state.

Upon graduation from nursing school, Mona was one of the first employees hired months prior to the opening of Labette County Medical Center (now Labette Health). Her position as LCMC Staff Nurse grew into OB Director and then Assistant Director of Nursing. In later years, she worked for Dr. Earl Martin and Dr. Agnes Aves. She performed many tasks that are now done by physician assistants.

Mona and her husband John married on June 2, 1963, in Parsons, KS and remained by each other's sides for 57 years. For a majority of their lives, they lived in a house they built together as a young married couple. Besides surviving the heartbreak of a full-term stillborn, Shawna Faye Harris, she was a mother of three successful children Celinda, Todd, and Monica. They also opened their home to foster children.

Mona completed advanced degrees in nursing and education while working full time as a wife and mother. She continued her success in higher education with her employment as a nurse educator at Labette Community College from 1981 until her retirement in 2000. She was proud to be part of a small staff of nurses who educated over 1,000 nursing candidates. Many students relied on her for emotional and vocational support, and she received an Outstanding Faculty Award from LCC in 1997. She traveled several times to both Monterrey, California and Princeton University in New Jersey to write new questions for the NCLEX exam, the standardized test required to become a registered nurse.

Her excellence as a nurse, specifically in obstetrics, and her dedication to medical education proved how passionate she was for the well-being, success, and happiness of the young people in her life. She was proud of the accomplishments of her children and found great joy in her grandchildren. She reminded her family to feel the richness of love and gratitude as often as possible by caring for others, and many of her family members today work in various areas of medicine, education, social work, and therapy.

Mona and John loved seeing their family during the holidays and lived with a sense of adventure by traveling around the United States and Canada. They often traveled in an RV and took many delightful cruises. Their favorite vacations were in Alaska and the Northeastern provinces of Canada. They additionally brought their children and grandchildren on many vacations, and Mona called those moments some of the best memories of her life.

Mona was a dedicated member and willing volunteer of the First Baptist Church of Parsons, KS and involved herself in Bible studies throughout her life.

She celebrated her 80th birthday six days before she died. On July 18th, 2020, her children and grandchildren joined her for a virtual face-to-face call to wish her a happy milestone birthday and tell her they loved her. She greeted them with a smile and a sing-songy hello, visibly joyful to connect with her family across many miles. Mona was surrounded by her three children and her husband on the day of her passing. They had time to pray together, laugh together, cry together, relive memories together, and remind Mona how very much they loved her.

During her life, Mona cared for many people as patients, as students, as children, as a spouse, and as friends. She herself is cared for now by the peace of Christ in Heaven, the source of her boundless grace and generosity. She will be tremendously missed because of her tremendous love.

Preceded in death by her parents; infant daughter, Shawna Faye; four siblings, Verdna Barnett; Vernon Barnett; Leda Clark; and Cleda Hosfelt.

Survivors include her husband John Harris; children, , Celinda (David) Heinrich, Fort Worth, Texas; Todd (Shalae) Harris, Overland Park, KS; Monica (Brad) Hilderbrand, rural Columbus, KS; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; siblings, Daqueta Shelley; Esther Johnson; Ivan Barnett; several cousins; nieces; and nephews.

Visitation and Celebration of Life at First Baptist Church, Parsons, KS. Graveside service in Spring Hill Cemetery, Parsons, KS. Memorial contributions to Labette Community College Foundation to be used toward nursing scholarships. Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Parsons, KS in charge of arrangements.