Renee L. Harris

Renee L. Harris, 70, of Marseilles, IL passed peacefully from this world to her eternal life with her Lord on Saturday, August 23 after a short battle with cancer. Visitation will be on Thursday, August 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 at the First United Methodist Church of Ottawa. Funeral services will be at the church on Friday, August 29 at 10:00, with visitation an hour before the service. Internment will be at the Glendale Memorial Garden in Pekin at approximately 2:30 on Friday, preceded by a brief service at graveside.

Renee is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Rev. Kenneth L. Harris. They were married on July 5, 1975 at the Marseilles United Methodist Church. Being a pastor's wife took them across the state, with appointments in Lowpoint-Washburn, Kewanee, Joy, New Boston, Elisa, Keithburg, Windsor, Zion Hill, Henry, Moline, Springfield, Macon, Cuba, London Mills, Minonk, and Wenona. When Ken retired in 2016, after living in parsonages for all of their married life, they moved to Marseilles where they finally enjoyed a home of their own.

Renee was born Renee Lynn Widman on February 14, 1955, the second of three children of Robert Sr. and Ruth Widman of rural Ransom, IL. Her parents and older brother Robert Jr. (Bob), also of Ransom, preceded her in death. She is survived by her younger brother Ron (Cathy) Widman of Ransom and nephew Danny Widman, sister-in-law Judy Harris-Becket, nephew Chris (Jennifer) Booher, and niece Valerie (Keri) O'Connor, along with her cats Rusty, Boomer, Tipper, and Andy,

Renee worked for many years as a medical transcriptionist in addition to her full-time job as a pastor's wife. She loved photography, and had some amazing shots of all kinds of birds she fed in her yard. In later years, she also painted beautiful designs on rocks. Renee was a talented alto singer, and, in addition to church choirs, was one of the founding members of the Peoria Area Civic Chorale, where she was a member for over 24 years.

Renee may most be remembered by those who knew her best for a Widman family characteristic - a twinkle in her eye, a sheepish smile, a funny true-life sometimes-embarrassing story, followed by a hearty laugh.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Ottawa.