Ronald Joe Harris

Ron Harris passed away peacefully at home on March 17, 2017 after a two year battle with cancer. Ron was born in Boulder, CO on November 4th, 1950 to Malcolm and Eleanor Harris. He moved to Estes Park at the age of 2 weeks, spending his youth here skiing at Hidden Valley and participating in football, basketball and track. He graduated from Estes Park High School in 1969, then joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Florida and Hawaii as an aircraft electrician. After serving his country, he moved to Fort Collins, CO to obtain a degree in Natural Resources from Colorado State University, graduating in 1976.

Ron began a career with the National Park Service at Rocky Mountain National Park as a seasonal trail crew member during his college years. He was part of the climbing team that removed the steel cables from the North Face of Longs Peak and participated in multiple search and rescue efforts. After graduation, he continued working for Rocky in numerous positions and eventually became a woodcrafter there, leaving his mark on many of the employee houses, historic backcountry cabins, and other structures. He retired from the NPS in September 2013 after 40 years of service.

He wed Susan Perney of Estes Park on December 16, 1972 and they enjoyed 44 years of marriage. Their daughter Kelsey was born in 1984 and was his heart’s delight. Ron loved these mountains and was a wonderful hiking companion, noticing many of the small details along the trail that most hikers miss in their rush to get to their destination. He also loved the ocean and the family spent a number of vacations in Hawaii and on the Oregon Coast. He would walk the beach and always came back with his pockets full of treasures that he’d found along the shore. He read just about any book that came his way and had an amazing memory. Most importantly, he had a quirky sense of humor and could always make us laugh.

Ron is survived by his wife Susan of Estes Park and his daughter Kelsey of Los Angeles, CA, as well as his sister Mary Beth Harris Shwayder and her husband Michael of Los Angeles, his brother Jim Harris of Houston, TX, his in-laws Ann and Steve Taylor of Estes Park, Sue Perney of Estes Park, and Abner and Kathryne Perney of Salina, KS, and numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces.

The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Trail Improvement Fund in Ron’s memory in care of Allnutt Funeral Service 1302 Graves Ave. Estes Park, CO. Ron’s wishes were for a private family service