John Philip Harris

Born February 21, 1943 in Camas Wash. to William E. and Elaine Harris. John graduated from Camas High School in 1961 and went on to attend Central Washington University. He was an outstanding athlete in high school and was named All State Tackle for football his senior year. He went on to be a starter his Freshman and Sophomore years at CWU. John joined the Ellensburg Police Department on April 1,1966 and after 28 years of service and obtaining the rank of Assistant Chief of Police, retired in 1994. His fondest memory was attending the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. and graduating from it in 1991.

In September of 1989 John married his wife Diane in Ellensburg and blended their families. John is survived by a daughter Cari Ann Knotts and a son Gregory John Harris. He is also survived by a grandson who was the apple of his eye, Josh Martin. Cari's husband, Brian, and Greg's wife, Jess, were added to his family. The blended family added two step-daughters, Dawn Larson and Robin Meiser. The family was enlarged by the addition of five grand daughers, Mercedes, Stephanie, Madison, Summer, and Isabeau. Johns boyhood was spent in Camas where he lived with his mom and dad and two brothers, Walt and Bill. The family were avid fishermen and spent hours on the waters around Camas.

John had a strong work ethic even as a young boy. His brothers had a popcorn wagon where they sold treats to the local youth at the swimming pool. He mowed lawns, shoveled snow, and did any kind of chore that was needed. When he was 13 he spent a summer bucking hay bales in Goldendale. John stayed physically active his entire life and enjoyed racketball, hiking, and shooting hoops with the family. He was a water baby and loved his trips to Hawaii where he could swim and snorkel in the ocean.

John was a Christian and attended Heights Church in Yakima with Diane. Graveside Services will be held at the Camas City Cemetery in Camas,WA at 1:00 on Tuesday August 22. Johns celebration of life will be held at his special granddaughter, Stephanie Kelsey's home immediately following this service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lepfuneralhome.com for the Harris family.