Name: Martin Mortuary
Address: Grand Junction, CO

Tom Harris was a Reference Librarian at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado from 1991 until his passing in 2011.  I do not hesitate to call him my best friend and I suspect I’m not the only one who would say that.  He was a friend of the best kind to many people, a man who reached out to others with basic but essential humanity, the sort of person who simply doesn’t come along every day.

I first met Tom in 1998 when I interviewed for an open Reference Librarian position at the College.  Tom was on the search committee and not surprisingly was chosen to shepherd the candidates around town after the interviews and meetings, making them feel welcome and showing off the area.  I very much wanted the job and to move out West after much dreaming of doing just that.  Tom sensed this of course having done the same thing himself some years prior.  We got along capitally from the very first.  He was easy and had a natural way of making people comfortable that was just a part of his being.

In the ensuing years we worked together in the Reference Dept.  We also hiked many trails in both Colorado and Utah.  Tom loved to share hikes he had taken with people who hadn’t been on them before.  It was kind of an evangelical function for the outdoors that he voluntarily took upon himself.  For him, it was like he was experiencing the same first time wonder that his companions were.  I guess he hiked the Fiery Furnace in Arches 20-30 times, usually with someone new who had no idea what was in store.  He was as able as the park rangers at finding his way through that red rock labyrinth.  He also had a keen interest in hikes you yourself had taken on your own, asking pertinent questions about length, elevation, weather, etc. as if he was about to hit the same trail himself.  And often he did.

Tom was also an avid bicyclist, participating in Ride the Rockies one year and biking up and over the Monument numerous times.  I was a less of a long distance cyclist than he was but we took a number of 10-20 mile rides together around town, sometimes on the riverfront trail or up on Orchard Mesa, often ending with a hearty breakfast downtown at the Main St. Café.

Perhaps music was the thing that moved Tom the most.  We shared the “live music is best” philosophy and went to many concerts of all different styles.  He was particularly fond of the shows at the College both by faculty and students.  We attended some notable shows at the Mesa Theater, the Avalon, and other venues…..Tom Russell, Katy Moffatt, The Jayhawks, John Sebastian, Los Straitjackets, Greg Brown, the list goes on.  I remember a show at the Radio Room by Jerry Hahn the jazz guitarist who asked for requests during his second set.  Tom called out a Beatles tune and sure enough Jerry played it.  Tom was smiling ear to ear.  Tom was also a musician himself.  Of course, he kept his drum kit set up in his basement but he also delved into guitar and ukulele, taking lessons on both of those instruments during the time I knew him.  He even became a serious trombone aficionado simply because his son Jonathan took up the instrument in school.

I guess the thing I most appreciated about Tom was his openness.  He freely pursued the people, places, and things that interested and inspired him.  He was a better person for it himself and the world was a better place because he lived that way, reaching for experience that fulfilled in the company of people who wanted the same.  We all deeply miss him.

Dear Tom,
you were a good friend.  I will miss the Jelly Beans that you filled my jar with.  Didn't think I knew did you.  My deepest sorrow goes out to Judy and your family.

I miss you awfully, dear friend.  You were such a joy to work with and outside of work our times together were so special to me.  I will keep you in my heart always and hope that 
you are now at peace.

Dad-
You were and always will be an inspiration and a role model to me. I have seen more in my 27 years than most do in a lifetime. I keep finding myself thinking about the next time we will go hiking or kayaking or just having dinner together and then realize that you will never be there in person but you will be there every day in spirit. I hope that I can be as good of a father to my beautiful girls as you were to me. I'll miss you dad and look forward to meeting you again someday.

I will miss you forever my precious brother.  We had such a wonderful relationship.  Sharing many a laugh, sometimes a tear.  You were such a caring person always wishing well to others.  I will missed all we shared.  You will always be my precious "Hambone."  I missed you today, tomorrow and forever.  Your sister-Judy

Jonathon and all of Tom's family,
I am writing on behalf of the North St. Paul Class of 1970. I was very saddened by the news that Tom had passed away. Tom did not make it to our 40 year reunion last fall, but he took the time to send a note and share some pictures with those who did attend. We will all remember him and miss him. Our deepest sympathies.
Terry Gow Kohler, reunion organizer and friend

Tom was a friend and employee of mine for many years.  He was such a joy to work with, always open to new ideas and with a great sense of fun.  

He took several of us hiking on the ridges early in my time at MSC.  After that hike, we spent literally years arguing about the different between level and flat!  I will miss him.

I will be driving in for the barbeque, hope to meet many of you then.

Dear Family and Friends,

My deepest sympathy to you all on Tom's passing.  I will forever cherish Tom's friendship and the times of music making we had together.  I was so fortunate to meet Tom back in 1966 and spend many months together playing "rock stars" in 9th grade.  And in more recent years, I had the pleasure to get together a few times with Tom and re-play the songs of those former years.  I will miss Tom very much and his memory will be in my heart forever.

My prayers go out to all of Tom's family and friends during this time of profound emotional pain.

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

Judy and Tom's family - I was so sorry to read of Tom's passing when I returned to town.  Working with Tom in the college library was so enjoyable.   He was one of the first to welcome me back to the campus after working elsewhere for a couple of years.  His sense of humor was incredible, and I will treasure the Christmas CDs he gave me.   He will be missed.

Tom, I will miss you everyday, for the rest of my life. You were a good Brother
and friend. I hope to see you on the other
side.
Love, Your Brother Joe

Your humor and kindness always meant a lot to me. My thoughts are with your family.

Dear Jonathan and family,
Our hearts and prayers are with you.  Eventhough we live so far across the country, the times that we were around your dad, we truly enjoyed. He will be missed by us all.
With Our Love,
Aunt Glenna & Uncle Jack

Your sincerity and compassion will be remembered and missed.

Dear Jonathan and family,
I am very sorry for your loss. Tom was a kind man and I loved how much pride he took in watching you play music at Grand Junction High and how proudly he talked about his growing family w/ his new daughter in law.  The last time I saw Tom he had tears in his eyes over the death of Landon Orcutt and that is when I realized that Tom was a sensitive soul who cared about a lot of people and what others went through. I always loved bumping into Tom and catching up on our "kids" and I will miss him. Good bless your family Jonathan. Debbie Arnold (Fromm)

OBITUARIO

Thomas R Harris

29 septiembre, 1951 – 16 marzo, 2011

Martin Mortuary

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