Bud was born in Sarasota on October 8, 1938 to Dr. John Edward Harris and Rebecca Eastman Harris. A true Sarasota pioneer, Bud spent many hours of his childhood at Myakka River State Park and Siesta Beach and loved to share stories of these adventures with his children and grandchildren.
Bud graduated from Sarasota High School in 1956, and went on to graduate from Duke University and Duke School of Medicine. After two years in the Air Force in San Antonio, Texas, he returned to Sarasota with his wife and children to begin his private practice, as his father had done before him. He practiced medicine in Sarasota for over 49 years, loved and respected by patients and colleagues as an excellent diagnostician with a caring bedside manner, often making a house call when needed. Bud was passionate about his family, his love for learning and his books. He was a lifelong learner, always reading and listening. He studied languages, listened to lectures, read books, and asked questions.
Bud married his high school sweetheart, Janice Buell, in 1960, whom he affectionately referred to as JB and together they raised their family in Sarasota.
He is survived by his two brothers, Ted (Deb) and Steve (Becky); his five children, Kathy Winton Burnette (Lee), Robin Litzell (Harry), Jon Harris (Heather), David Harris (Helen) and Leigh Harris as well as 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren who will long tell stories of Papa as he loved to tell stories to them.
At the end of the day, our Dad was most content watching the sunset on his porch knowing his family was nearby.
Services will be private at a later date with inurnment at Sarasota National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bud’s memory to Covenant Life Church of Sarasota (covenantlifepca.com) or to Tidewell Hospice (tidewellhospice.org)
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.1