Harold Reed Harris

Harold Reed Harris, 82, a long time resident of Parkrose, died on Oct. 26, from complications of pneumonia. A reception for friends to come and visit with his family will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 at Loveland Funeral Chapel in La Grande. A private family memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Harold was born on Nov. 9, 1923, in Fort Duchesne, Utah, the seventh of eight sons of Leonard Reed Harris and Martha Kitchen Harris. He spent his entire childhood in the Uintah Basin region and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1940.He served in the Navy in the Pacific region during World War II. After the war, he attended Brigham Young University, where he met and married his wife, Velma June Schmidt on June 10, 1946, in Salt Lake LDS Temple. He and his wife were the parents of five children.

They moved to Salt Lake City where he finished his education, graduating from the University in 1952. The family then moved to Portland, where Harold taught school for serveral years and then returned to Provo, Utah, where he obtained his master's degree in counseling from BYU. He spent over 30 years in education, as a teacher and then a counselor, particularly in the Parkrose School District.

An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints his entire life, Harold served in every organization of the church, and as a bishop, a high counselor, and a seminary teacher. He and his wife also served four missions for the church. Harold loved helping people. He also enjoyed gardening and grew wonderful vegetables, raspberries, and roses, which he freely shared with friends and neighbors.

In 1997, Harold and his wife moved to La Grande to be near family. A two-time stroke survivor, Harold never quit striving to keep going and stay active. When he was forced to give up driving and used a walker, he purchased a motorized scooter which he rode throughout his La Grande neighborhood, visiting with friends and neighbors. Following the death of his wife, he moved to Sacramento, Calif., to live with his daughter, Julie, and her family, and enjoyed the lovely weather that allowed him to continue riding his scooter and making new friends. He also attended a workout class at Cosumnes River College.

Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Velma, a daughter, Dianne Payne, and five brothers, Harold is survived by three sons and their spouses Lynn (Jan) and Mark (Linda) Harris of La Grande, and Paul (Lori) Harris of Vancouver; and one daughter, Julie (Dan) Elliott of Sacramento, Calif,; brothers, Glen Harris of Bullhead City, Ariz., and Ken Harris of Bountiful, Utah; one half-brother, Vaughn Harris of Loa, Utah; one half-sister, Janine Petross of Fairway, Utah; 22 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Remembrances may be made to the Consumnes River College Adaptive P.E. Program, the LDS Church Humanitarian Aid Fund, or the Perpetual Education Fund in care of Loveland Funeral Chapel.