Francis "Frank" E. Harris

Frank was both a man of character, and a character himself. The man of character worked hard all his life, married, raised nine children, saw 19 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Frank the character, well, he’s another story.

Born March 8, 1930, in Detroit, Frank’s family moved to New Jersey when he was a youngster, and he was a true product of the Garden State where he grew up. During summer breaks from school, he worked five days a week, “and a half-day on Saturday,” he recalled, at Vollmer Farm, harvesting Jersey tomatoes. “Sunday,” he noted, “was for church.” He enjoyed riding the truck to market in Camden, where the tomatoes were sold to the Campbell Soup Co. Sometimes, with the truck on a barge, he even accompanied the crop across the Delaware River to market in the big city – Philadelphia! His farm duties also meant helping at home with his mother’s egg route, riding with her in their old Ford delivering eggs collected from her henhouse.

Farm work made him a very fit high school athlete. “All that walking and lifting made me a good runner,” he said. He was a champion distance runner, and once was offered a college scholarship to run cross-country. But after high school, he chose to enlist in the post-WW2 Navy and after basic training at the Great Lakes USNTC in Illinois, he saw duty aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer. That duty included being a loader for the 5-inch deck gun, and a patrol trip through the Panama Canal.

Jersey Meets the Motor City

Throughout his early life, Frank had often returned to Detroit with his family to visit relatives, so it was a familiar place to him when, years later, one of his uncles helped him get a job at Detroit Edison. It was in Detroit that this Jersey boy, setting out to build his life, met another equally colorful character – Barbara Slack – also born in Detroit, and a returnee after a childhood of moving about with her family. Nudged by fate, they married and became a Motor City love story that lasted 63 years. Frank loved to dance, especially with his dear Barbara (but he occasionally indulged his daughters); and he was an avid bowler and a golfer who, on the alley or the fairway, combined the concentration and focus of a pro, with the spirit of a true beer-leaguer.

As most beloved characters do, Frank evolved throughout his life. He was selfless, caring, and tireless in support of his family. He was a good listener, and he always took the time to understand – even if he didn’t agree.

As he grew older, his spirit never aged. He was as unflagging in his interest in his great grandchildren as he was in his children and grandchildren, and he made sure that everyone in his life knew they were special to him.

“You want memories? I’ve got memories!” Frank once said. Well, thanks to him, so does everyone who knew him.

“We felt loved in his presence,” one of his grandchildren remembered. And that’s Frank’s legacy – children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, all living a life of caring and love that they learned through his example.

Frank is survived by his nine children, Donald Harris (Marsha), Donna Hollingsworth (Duncan), Diane Leong (James), Denise Pazarena (John), Doris Saad (Daniel), Daniel Harris (Jacqueline), Ruby Herter (Ulrich, dec.), Debra Kinney (Rick Berlin), and Duane Harris (Deanna); his sister, Marilynn Winkoski, and his sisters-in-law Irene Harris and Carolle Michaud-Harris.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (Slack) and his brothers, Jack Harris, Dick Harris, Jim Harris, and Kenny Harris.

There will be a celebration of his life with visitation at Resurrection Funeral Home (40800 Hayes Rd., Clinton Township) on Friday, November 5 from 3-9 p.m. All who knew him are welcome! The Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. Friday. The funeral mass will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church (40501 Hayes Rd., Sterling Heights) on Saturday, November 6. In-state will begin at 10:30 a.m. until the funeral mass at 11 a.m.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the Harris family at www.resurrectionfuneralhome.com