John Harris

John Al Harris passed away at 5:33 p.m. on February 7, two months before his 90th Birthday. This was exactly the moment the sun set, and the moment the alpenglow faded away from Mt Shasta. John was a happy man. He was happy with his life, proud of his family, loved his wife, Karen, and enjoyed his friends. His work was always exciting to him. Rare was the moment that anything kept him down and took his amiable personality with it. He simply moved forward and let it go. He recently said, “I’ve done everything in life I wanted to do.”

John was a man with friends in every place. Whenever he met someone from another city, town or state, John knew someone from there. He has eaten in every place in town, multiple times, and always with a friend sitting across the table. John did not like to eat alone. He had stories to tell. He was a businessman who enjoyed the thrill of investing in local people and seeing their businesses prosper.

John was a self-made man. He left home in Solon Springs, WI at the age of 14 and worked to support himself. After serving in the Korean War, John moved West and attended San Jose State University. Successful in many careers, he ultimately settled in Real Estate Sales as a Broker. This was a career which spanned over 45 years. This was the one which fired up his passion, until his death. He used to joke that he would retire when he was carried out in a pine box. He was respected by his peers, and there were few people who were more attentive to their clients than John was.

He motivated his Agents with humor and fearlessness. Always quick with a quip, John was never without a story. He was quite the raconteur. Never mind that he repeated the stories multiple times. There were always new ears to hear them, while the rest of us could lip sync with the tale.

The only times he did not show up for work was when his family came to visit. He loved his son, his step- children, and his grandchildren. In his later years, he would tear up speaking about them.

Most importantly, John did not let age determine who he was, or what he could do. As he had more trouble with his body, he never once became discouraged. He was optimistic that he would walk properly, that his hearing would improve, and he never doubted these to be facts.

All roads led John to Mount Shasta. He loved his home, this land, and the community. John was a pilot, a golfer, a cribbage player, a tennis player, skier, a Sacramento Kings fan and a philosopher. He traveled the world, until it was no longer interesting to him. However, Fly Fishing was the love of his life and the joy of his heart. It was his time to reboot, to meditate in the beauty of Nature, and possibly to have a good chat with his fishing companions. Each year he looked forward to planning his annual fishing trip with his son, Tim. Together they experienced, fished, and explored many beautiful rivers in the American West. We all like to think John is now, with perfect body and youthful grace, fly fishing in perpetuity.

John is survived by his wife, Karen, Son Timothy (Karen); stepchildren Craig (Marsha), Kathy (Mike) and Sheri (John); sisters Donna and Joanne; sister-in-law Susan (John); grandchildren, nieces and nephews. The family is thankful for the outpouring of love and support. Special appreciation to the staff at Mercy Medical Center in Mount Shasta. A celebration of Life is being planned.