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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.
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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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family of Homer B. Harris Jr. |
