William Edwin Harris

To view Ed's Life Tribute Video , Click Here. A memorial service was held 2:00 p.m. Wednesday June 1, 2011 at Vistoso Funeral Home, Oro Valley. William Edwin Harris, beloved father and grandfather, peacefully passed away on May 30, 2011 in Oro Valley, Arizona. Ed was born in Philadelphia to Bennie Withers Harris and Samuel Caldwell Harris on July 1, 1935. He grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, attended Phillips Exeter Academy and continued on to graduate from Duke University with a degree in Economics. In 1957 he married Nancy Morse and began his career as a life insurance underwriter for Prudential Insurance Company. Ed and Nancy moved to Jacksonville, Florida and started their family of two daughters. After 5 years he was transferred to New Jersey, where he completed his 34 year career with Prudential. They moved to Tucson, Arizona to be closer to family and enjoy some warm weather. Ed was a gentle, generous, caring, soft-spoken man with big brown eyes and a big heart of gold. His quiet strength enabled him to step up to the plate whenever needed. He was always a dependable rock for his wife, daughters, and four grandchildren. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family. He was passionate about music. During his 75 years he also loved dogs, golf, the Jersey shore, sailing and fishing, chocolate, the New York Giants, ice cream, traveling, Free Cell, college basketball and the Phillies. He gave many hours of volunteer community service with various organizations throughout his life. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Nancy M. Harris. He will be greatly missed by Linda McGrory, his first daughter, and her husband Jim; Leanne Lockhart, his second daughter, and her husband Chuck; as well as his grandchildren Michelle McGrory, Christy McGrory, Brent Lockhart and Alexandra Lockhart. His life also truly touched many extended family members, friends and neighbors over the years. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of William Edwin Harris may be made to the University of Arizona for the Arizona Cancer Center via www.azcc.arizona.edu/giving/how or by mail to the University of Arizona Foundation for the Arizona Cancer Center, 1515 N. Campbell Ave., P.O. Box 245013, Tucson, AZ, 85724. Please designate donations for Research, specifically colon cancer. God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, Then God combined these qualities, When there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it ... "DAD!" Author Unknown