Our loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, brother and friend, Raymond Eagleye Harris, age 66, passed away December 3, 1997 after a long and valiant battle with numerous respiratory ailments.
He was born October 24, 1931 in St. Joseph, Missouri the eleventh of twelve children, to George W. and Alice Marr Harris. The family moved to Tooele in 1942. Ray was active in all athletics while attending Tooele High School, but his first love was baseball where he excelled as a shortstop. He graduated from Tooele High School in 1950 and joined the Army during the fall of that year. Ray served 14 months active duty in the Korean Conflict where he was decorated with: Three Battle Stars, the Korean Medal of Honor, the United Nations Service Award, and a Purple Heart. While fulfilling his remaining service time in Fort Ord, California, he met the foremost love of his life--Charlcy Joy Gilbert. They were married October 5, 1952 in Reno, Nevada and moved to Tooele after his discharge in 1953, where they raised four beautiful children. Ray coached baseball for over 40 years in Tooele, winning the WBBA World Series with his brother Ralph in 1959, along with numerous State Titles in the Utah Babe Ruth Association. At the time of his death, Ray was VP in the Tooele District for Babe Ruth Baseball. He loved coaching and associating with the many hundreds of kids during his tenure and became a father figure to a good number of the boys he came in contact with. He retired from Kennecott Copper Corp. in 1985 after 32 years of meritous service. He and his wife owned and operated several businesses in Tooele during their time together, but his pride and joy is GO-FER Foods and Harris Lube Center which they still operate. Spending time with his family water skiing, camping, fishing, or simply in his backyard retreat was Ray's greatest pass-time. He loved to have family Bar-B-Q's during the summertime so he could sharpen his grandchild's batting eyes, or improve their pitching abilities. He was a member of the LDS Church and was recently ordained and Elder in the Skyline Ward where he was looking forward to serving.Ray is survived by his wife of 45 years, Charlcy, one son and three daughters, R.Matt (Debbie) Harris of Stansbury Park, Laurie H. (Ken) Nunley, Bonnie J. Bryan both of Tooele, and Pamelia K. (Paul) Kelley of Grantsville. Sister, Lucille (Bob) Ewing of Roseburg, Oregon, brothers, Ralph (Etta Mae) Harris, Richard (Laura) Harris of Tooele. Nine grandsons (a baseball team), four granddaughters, one great-grandson, numerous nieces and nephews all of whom he loved very much. Preceded in death by his parents, five sisters and three brothers.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, December 8th in the Tooele Utah Stake Center, 253 So. 200 E., at 1 p.m. A viewing will be held Sun., Dec. 7th at Tate Mortuary, 110 So. Main St. Tooele, UT from 6-8 p.m. and one hour prior to the services at the Stake Center on Monday.
Grandpa we will miss you, but know you are in a better place.
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