Merle E. Harris

Merle E. Harris, beloved father, grandfather, and friend, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Merle was born on June 15, 1921 in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Son of Ethel M. Harris and Orville R. Dixon, he grew up in Topeka, Kansas. In 1939 he graduated from Topeka High School and then went on to graduate with a degree in accounting from Stricklers Business College. In 1942 he joined the United States Navy where he served in World War II as a Petty Officer First Class in the Pacific Theater. Later he also served in the United States Coast Guard Reserve. In 1946, while working for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, Merle met and married his beloved wife, Alice Beaghler Harris, on June 21, 1946 in Topeka, Kansas and went on to have two beautiful children, Stephen and Janet. In 1947 he began his career with National Cash Register which took him and his family from Kansas, to Texas, to Louisiana, to Missouri, and back to Texas again before he retired from NCR in Beaumont, Texas in 1985. In Beaumont, Merle and Alice were active members of Wesley United Methodist Church and of the Citizens Police Academy. Following his retirement Merle took a job as warehouse manager for Braud Camera and Video in the nearby town of Nederland. In 2006, wanting to be closer to family, Merle and Alice moved to Ashwood Retirement and Assisted Living in Austin, Texas where they made new friends. Once in Austin they became members of Bethany United Methodist Church/Ashwood Christian Fellowship. Merle also enjoyed serving on the Ashwood Resident’s Council where he most recently served as council president. Merle was an avid fisherman and enjoyed bridge club and poker club as well as swing dancing and square dancing with his wife, Alice.

Merle was preceded in death by his life-long love, Alice and his daughter Janet K. Dickie. He leaves to cherish his memory a son, Stephen Harris and wife Nancy, of Robertsdale, Alabama; son-in-law Charles Dickie of Austin, Texas; granddaughter Angela Moyer and husband Jason along with great-grandsons, Grant, Evan, and Bennett of Cedar Park, Texas; granddaughter Stephanie Naron and husband Tommy along with great-grandchildren Grace, Caitlin, and Tyler of Hutto, Texas; and granddaughter Laura Cope and husband Philip of Brisbane, Australia.