Roy E. Harris

HARRIS, CAPFIELD, WESTERLUND, TASLER

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 5/24/2006 at 14:35:13

Earlham Library Obituary Collection
1998

Roy E. Harris, 69, of Earlham died from complications of a stroke Oct. 30, 1998, at Winterset Care Center South.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Nov. 3, at the First Presbyterian Church in Earlham with the Rev. Dr. Ray Martin and Ernest Baiotto officiating. Burial was at Earlham Cemetery, with graveside military rites performed by Earlham American Legion Post 158.

Roy Harris was born April 3, 1929, in Madison County to Merritt W. and Atholl (Capfield) Harris. He lived in Dodge City, Kan., until he was seven years of age. The family then moved to Mound City, Mo., and returned to Iowa five years later. He was a 1947 graduate of Earlham Community School. He was a Navy veteran (Seabee Division), having served in Adak, Alaska, Japan and Guam during the Korean War until 1952. He married Marnice Westerlund in 1950 in Earlham, where they resided following his dicharge from the Navy. Roy worked with his father and brothers at Harris and Sons Construction Company until 1968, when he purchased the company. He continued in the construction business for nearly 30 years, until his retirement in 1991. He was a member of the Earlham Presbyterian Church, Earlham Fire Department, American Legion Post 158, a charter member of the Earlham Homecare Services board of directors and charter member of the Earlham pool board.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by one daughter, Jill Tasler (husband Leonard) of Asheville, N.C.; two sons, Kim Harris (wife Marcia) and Mark Harris, both of Earlham; two brothers, Ted Harris (wife Carol) of Earlham and Don D. Harris (wife Claude) of Van Meter; and five grandchildren.