Thursday, October 1, 2026
Thomasene was born in Tolar, Texas, to Oscar Lee and Celia Belle (Gardner) Campbell. She was number eight of 10 children. The family always teased that they ran out of good names by the time she arrived — few knew Tink’s “real” name. In her preteens, the Campbells moved to Lipan; when she was 16 the family moved to Granbury when her dad, Oscar Lee Campbell, was elected Hood County Sheriff. They moved into the jailhouse — which is currently a Hood County museum — with the last three children. Her mom cooked for those jailed on a wood stove and eventually wore the sheriff badge to finish out Oscar’s term after he passed in November 1948. Celia Belle Campbell was the first female to hold the title of sheriff in the State of Texas.
Tink’s husband of 68 years, William Frank “Frankie” Harris, passed in August 2014. They had been high school sweethearts and became an active and lively duo with lots of friends who liked to travel, laugh and pray together. Tink and Frankie lived on a farm outside Acton. They farmed coastal Bermuda, had a dairy operation, and tended a large garden and orchard — keeping Tink busy canning pickles, beets, and okra, freezing peaches, shelling green beans and black-eyed peas, and generally sharing the bounty. Since the late 60s, their life's work was founding and supporting Lake Granbury Christian Temple. They were very active in mission work in Mexico and their hospital and nursing homes ministry. Their outreach was not limited to their church; they had “servant hearts” and went looking for needs they could help meet. They followed sports teams all over this big state, whether it was their kids, grandkids, or local teams, and Toni could always expect house guests in Austin each year for the weeklong Texas Girls High School Basketball finals. Tink worked in several local retail positions — William’s Dry Goods, Thompson’s Hardware, and Fisher’s Apparel. She was fashionable — particular about her clothes, makeup, hair and nails until the end.
Tink is survived by sibling number nine, her beloved baby sister, Nettie “Ann” Campbell Scott. Aunt Ann visited her daily in the Harbor Lakes Nursing Home, where she resided for the past three and a half years. Those visits made a world of difference to her well-being. After both were widowed, they shared a keen interest in watching TV sports: the Mavericks, Cowboys and TCU televised games were seldom missed. They both took it hard when Luka left for the Lakers! Wasn’t it enough that Dirk had retired?
Aunt Ann and Toni were at her side when she took her final peaceful breath. We have high regard and want to thank the Harbor Lakes Nursing Home and Rehab staff for lovingly supporting her well-being during her highs and lows. The last six weeks were particularly challenging when her Alzheimer’s disease took on stronger paranoid dimensions. We would also like to thank St. Gabriel Hospice for their help and additional guidance in her final week. The family wants to acknowledge the nursing profession. We witnessed many deeds of professionalism, skill, kindness and patience. It is demanding work, not for the faint of heart, and such a beautiful thing when it is practiced as a “calling.”
Tink is survived by her three children: Johnny Tom (Pam) Harris, Granbury; Toni Gail Harris, Granbury (Austin, Wimberley, Taos, New Mexico); Kimbra “Jane” Harris, West Palm Beach, Florida (and Fort Worth, Dallas, Huntington Beach, California, Maui, Hawaii); the family joke is that Kimbra gave herself a middle name because everyone else was given one!
“Momma Tink” is also survived by five grandchildren: Kelli Weedon (Tracy Wilson), San Antonio; Kila Davis (Scott Breiter) Fort Worth; Heather Harris, Granbury; Hunter Harris (Adrienne), Fort Worth; Clint Harris (Alex), Granbury; 11 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews; at one time there were 36 Campbell cousins.
The family will plan a Celebration of Life service for later this fall; the date is to be determined. Expect Dolly Parton singing classic gospels! RIP, dear Dolly, with a heart big enough to welcome all — no exceptions.
