Mary Ellen Harms

Mary Ellen Schanck Harms, 77, of Tellico Plains, Tennessee passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022, at Sweetwater Hospital after a brief illness. Mary was born on February 21, 1945, in Hackensack, New Jersey to the late William “Bill” and Mary “Mabel” Schanck. Mary lived most of her life in New Hampshire, Texas, and Tennessee. Mary Ellen was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

Mary loved talking, gardening, thrift shopping, and going to yard sales. She enjoyed meeting new people, and never met a stranger. Mary could find the beauty in wherever she was living at the time. Her favorite place to be was in southeast Tennessee. Her favorite things in Tennessee were the mountains, rivers, and all the trees. Mary Ellen spent most of her working years caring for and assisting individuals with disabilities

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her brother, Bob (Suzanne) Schanck; sister, Anne Myers; and her son, Richard Lariviere.

She leaves behind to cherish her memory her husband, Kirk Harms; brother, Bill (Barbara) Schanck of Augusta, Georgia; her sons, Curtis Knox of Austin, Texas, and Dan Lariviere of Tulsa, Oklahoma; four grandchildren; and one great grandson; along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at Companion Funeral Home of Athens at 2:30 pm. The family will be receiving friends from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to your local animal shelter.

You are invited to share a personal memory of Mary Ellen or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral Home of Athens and the Cody family are honored to assist the family with these arrangements.