Linda Lou Harris

MANSFIELD -- Linda Harris, 76, died Friday, May 16, 2014.
Linda and twin brother, Sid Barton, of Crowley were the youngest of nine children born to Zavala Swift Barton and W.C. Barton. Born Oct. 30, 1937, in Handley, she grew up in Cleburne, graduated from Cleburne High School in 1956, and married Rex Donald Harris of Mansfield, where they made their home with their sons, Donald Dean and Norman Don.
After finishing secretarial school at Brantley Draughon Business College, she began a 30-year career in public relations and advertising. She served as the media director for the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission and 20 years in print and sales. She began work with Glenn Advertising as a receptionist, moved upward as a production manager at Witherspoon and Associates. Linda was the second woman elected to board of directors of the Fort Worth Advertising Club. She later became vice president and general manager of the newly formed Action Center of the First National Bank of Fort Worth, and worked with the sales team of Motheral Printing Company prior to her retirement in 2006. She was a founding member of American Women in Radio and TV. This chapter was the largest in the nation. As president of the club, she served on the local, district and national boards. Throughout Linda's career she received numerous awards and honors. She was recognized with an invitation to a reception at the White House with Pat Nixon and received the Outstanding Young Women in America award and the Outstanding Career Women of America award. Her career was vast, including service on the American Ad Council. Linda was a longtime member at First Baptist Church where she taught girls Sunday school.
In addition to Linda's rewarding career her family captured her heart, including her two granddaughters, Tye Harris Coapland and Holiday Harris, plus a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Survivors: Spouse, Rex Donald Harris; sons, Donald Dean Harris and Norman Don Harris; daughter-in-law, Lynette Harris; granddaughters, Tye Harris Coapland and Holiday Harris; twin brother, Sid Barton and his wife, Sharon Barton; and brother, Bobby Barton.