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Homer B. Harris Jr.

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[June 20, 2017]  DURANGO CO - Homer B. Harris, Jr. ("Bud"), 91, formerly of Lincoln, died peacefully in Durango, Colorado on June 8, 2017.

Service: St. John's United Church of Christ at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Funeral home: Peasley Funeral Home, Lincoln     

Obituary

The world lost a special person and a gentle spirit on June 8, 2017. Homer B. Harris, Jr. ("Bud"), 91, formerly of Lincoln, died peacefully in Durango, Colorado. Bud had a smile and a kind word for everyone. He touched all who knew him with his quiet strength and grace.

He was born on February 21, 1926, in Lincoln, the youngest of 2 sons to Homer and Renee Harris. After excelling in athletics and academics, he graduated from Lincoln Community High School in 1944. He received his degree from the University of Michigan in 1947 after only 3 years while also serving in the Naval Air Corp. On June 18, 1949, he married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Mary Lou Gimbel. He graduated from the University of Illinois School of Law in 1950.

He returned to Lincoln to be the third generation to practice law with his father as well as his brother, Thomas M. Harris, in the family firm of Harris and Harris. Bud practiced law for over 50 years. He respected his profession and his colleagues respected him. Besides electing him President of the Logan County Bar Association, his peers gave him the highest ratings a lawyer can achieve for both competence and integrity. Bud handled the litigation for his firm. He was a talented litigator whose honesty and down home presence resonated with juries and judges alike.

Although Bud had a passion for the law, he was a genuine humanitarian and gave tirelessly back to his community. He was the President of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital Board, the Lincoln College Board, the St. John's United Church of Christ Council, and the District 27 School Board. He was also instrumental in founding the Logan County chapter of United Way. Bud was an incredibly generous person and supported many educational, health, and environmental non-profits.

He also excelled in sports in high school and at the University of Michigan. He became a runner and placed in the top 3 of his age group in the Bolder-Boulder (the second largest 10K race in the U.S.) more than 10 times - finishing 1st the last time he ran the race at age 86.
 

Funeral Director

Bud was devoted to his family. He loved the mountains, wildflowers, and waterfalls of Colorado and led many memorable family vacations in the United States and Canada. He was an avid sailor, skier, and hiker - summiting many of Colorado's 14,000+ foot peaks. He and his wife moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2003. His loving wife Mary preceded him in death in 2006. In 2012, Bud moved to the mountains north of Durango, Colorado to live with his son and daughter-in-law.

During his 57 years of marriage to Mary Lou Harris, they had 3 children with whom he instilled a vigorous respect for the less fortunate, animals, and the environment: Diane Renee Warnock of Loveland, Colorado; William Dean Harris (Peggy) of Neshkoro, Wisconsin, and David Gimbel Harris (Michele) of Durango, Colorado. Bud adored his 9 loving grandchildren: Sarah Warnock, Michael Warnock, Allison Kitchen, Jason Kreuscher, Cindy Kreuscher, Bryan Kreuscher, Greer Harris, Audrey Harris, and Hailey Edwards. He is also survived by 7 great-grandchildren and his brother, Thomas M. Harris, Sr.

Services will be held at St. John's United Church of Christ at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, 2017, with a private graveside service to follow at New Union Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please perpetuate Bud's giving spirit by considering a donation to Hospice of Mercy, 175 Mercado Street, #131, Durango, CO 81301; Lincoln College, 300 Keokuk, Lincoln, IL 62656; or La Plata County Humane Society, 1111 S. Camino Del Rio, Durango, CO 81301 http://www.lpchumane society.org/donateonline.html.

Peasley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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