John L. Harris, 88, of Durham, NC passed away Thursday, November 29, 2012, at Rose Manor Healthcare Center in Durham. Mr. Harris was born in Brielle, NJ, the son of the late John E Harris and the late Lela M King Harris. He lived most of his life in New Jersey before moving to North Carolina in 2011.
He served in the Army during WWII as a Paratrooper (11th Airborne Division) attaining the rank of First Sergeant. The majority of his military career was spent in the South Pacific where he made many combat jumps during battle. Prior to his retirement at the age of 72, Mr. Harris owned and operated Harris Brothers Construction Co. along with his brothers, Clarence and William. He was an active member of the Lions Club of Wall for many years and served as President from 1965-1966. Mr. Harris was a member of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. He enjoyed outdoor activities and his favorite sports were fishing, hunting and skeet shooting.
Mr. Harris is survived by his daughters, Linda Harris McCully and husband, John, of Durham, NC, Tracy Hines and partner, John Hersch, of Waretown, NJ, and Shelley Harris of Wall, NJ; a brother, Clarence Harris and wife, Frances, of Brick Township, NJ; and grandchildren, Janel Drake of Greenville, NC, Adam Drake of Clayton, NC, Lindsay Hines of Wall Township, NJ, Taylor Hines and Kenneth Hines, both of Waretown, NJ and Sean Gardineer and Jamie Butkus, both of Wall, NJ and also four great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Jayne, in 2008, and his brother, William, in 2009.
A Memorial Visiting will be held Tuesday, December 4, 2012 from 7-9 PM at O’Brien Funeral Home, 2028 Hwy 35, Wall, NJ. Interment will be Wednesday, 11 AM at Monmouth Memorial Park in Tinton Falls. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to the Humane Society of Tinton Falls, 2960 Shafto Road Tinton Falls, NJ 07753.