ED HARRIS ~ Class of 1965
October 25, 1946 - June 11, 2008





Ed Harris died peacefully on June 11, surrounded by family and friends. Ed was born October 25, 1946, in Spokane to Edith and Edward Harris.

He soon was joined by four siblings over the next few years. The Harris kids grew up with a love of fishing, hunting, and baseball, and Ed would continue to pass on those family hobbies. Ed's family moved to Richland while he was young and it was there he met several close friends and extended families that would endure throughout his life.

After graduating in 1965 from Columbia High School in Richland, Ed moved to Seattle where he worked at Boeing for a few years. However, his desire to raise a family in the Tri-Cities brought him back to Richland and he built a career with Burlington Northern Railroad.

In 1970, he married Kathy (Thayer) Harris, and they had three children. Ed instilled in his kids a willingness to work hard, and a deep love of baseball. Ed coached youth baseball for more than 25 years, and his kids loved spending their summers at the ball park. Some other treasured family memories include trips to Seattle to watch the Mariners, crabbing in Tokeland, beach combing in Westport, frequent fishing trips and the annual search for the perfect Christmas tree.

Ed retired from the railroad in 2002 and sold Joey's, the restaurant he had purchased with a friend several years before. This allowed him to spend more time hunting and fishing, and he especially enjoyed recent fishing trips to Alaska. He also cherished annual elk and deer hunts with his close friends and his son, Shawn. Ed loved fishing with his grandkids as well.

Ed is preceded in death by his father, Edward Harris; his mother, Edith Harris; his sister, Edie Harris Tadlock ('67); and his brother, Keith Harris ('67).

Ed is survived by his ex-wife and close friend, Kathy Harris; his daughter, Dawn Clark and husband, Brian; his son, Shawn Harris and wife, Heather; and his daughter, Janelle Klages and husband, Tyler. Ed has three grandchildren, whom he cherished: Charmaine Harris, Aaron Clark and Rachel Clark.

He is also is survived by his sister, Marian Schultz ('69) and her husband, Steve; his brother, Vernon Harris; and several nieces and nephews.

Ed was surrounded by a great group of close friends and the family would like to thank them all for their love and support, with special thanks to Gary Clark.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to youth baseball organizations. A memorial service will be held on Monday, June 16, at Einan's Funeral Home at 2 p.m.

Published in the Tri-City Herald on 6/13/2008.

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