Donna B. Harris

Donna Jean (Bailey) Harris passed away peacefully on November 8, 2025, in Berlin, New Hampshire at age 79. She leaves behind her loving husband of 51 years, Robert (Bob) Harris; her two daughters, Regan Harris and Rachel Crist; her son-in-law DJ Crist and Rachel and DJ’s three sons, Ryan, Braden, and Gavin. She also leaves behind her sister Marcia Wilkinson and brother-in-law John Wilkinson, her nephew Craig Wilkinson and his wife Michelle, and their children Nathan, Claire, Audrey, Emily and Annie. Additionally, she is survived by her cousins Ron Pisciotta and Jeff Pisciotta, along with Jeff’s wife Nancy and their children and grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her parents, Madeline and Chester Bailey, aunts and uncles Grace and Charles Murphy and Carolyn and Joseph Pisciotta, and a great-nephew, Connor Wilkinson.

Donna was born on April 16, 1946 at Winchester Hospital in Winchester, Massachusetts, and grew up in Belmont. She and her family often enjoyed vacations to Seabrook, New Hampshire, where she and her sister and cousins spent many happy hours as “The Seashore Club.” She graduated Belmont High School and Salve Regina College, Cum Laude, with a degree in Special Education and a minor in Sociology. After graduation, she left her home state of Massachusetts to teach school in San Diego. While in San Diego, she met a visiting marine named Bob Harris, who was stationed in Yuma, Arizona. Donna and Bob became partners for life, marrying on July 20, 1974 in Massachusetts. She then relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii, where Bob was stationed, assuming the role of military wife. While there she also became a mother when her first daughter, Regan, was born.

The young family relocated to Donna’s home state of Massachusetts, settling in Stoneham. While living there, a second daughter, Rachel, joined the family. Donna was a gifted homemaker, cook and baker, even able to turn leftovers into unique creations! She also reveled in the changing of the seasons, teaching her children to watch for seasonal flowers, the first robin of spring, and to savor the different types of apples that came out in the fall. Although her primary role was that of wife and mother, Donna occasionally did substitute teaching and tutoring. In 1988, the family adopted a puppy named Zeke and she loved having him as part of the family. She supported her husband when he assumed his first senior pastor position in East Boston in 1989 and again when he became the pastor of Clinton Assembly of God in 1994. She was a gifted teacher, teaching Sunday school and other classes, and was a mentor to many. Her motto was that whatever she taught needed to make a difference in people’s lives when their alarm clocks rang on Monday morning, and she put a great deal of effort into teaching concepts that would apply to people’s daily lives. She cared deeply about those who looked to her for guidance, and would eventually become a licensed minister herself.

In 1997, Donna and Bob purchased a home in Randolph, New Hampshire which she loved. They would eventually retire there. She loved the views of the mountains, the foliage, the snow, and watching the birds from her window! But even bigger joys came with the birth of her three grandsons, Ryan, Braden, and Gavin. Donna loved visiting with her family, and also traveling.

Some of her more memorable travels included an Alaskan cruise with her husband, and a trip to Canada where she got the chance to meet and visit with extended family, her Armstrong cousins. And even after her children grew up and the family became further scattered across the country, (and sometimes even the world), Donna continued to care about what went on in their daily lives. She even broke a promise that she would “never do e-mail” in order to stay in better touch with her family. Donna left an indelible presence in the lives of her loved ones, and she will be loved forever by them.

There will be no services. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations in Donna's memory to Samaritan's Purse at www.samaritanspurse.org. Arrangements are entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Homes of Berlin & Gorham, NH.