Wayne Clifford Harris passed away on July 8, 2018 in Hermiston at the age of 97.
He was born on Feb. 24, 1921 in Vale to Roy and Fannie Haw Harris.
Wayne lived in Vale throughout his childhood, where he graduated from high school in the class of 1940. After high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and served in Kimberly. He worked for Boeing Aircraft for a short time before he joined the Navy Seabees in 1943. He was stationed in Guam during World War II, where he served until 1946.
After the war Wayne returned to Oregon, where he worked at the Umatilla Army Depot. While working at the depot he met Jeanne Moore-Carter, and the couple were united in marriage on May 15, 1946. He then moved to Denver, Colo., where he attended watchmaking school until 1948. He then returned to Eastern Oregon and worked for Gillham’s Jeweler in Hermiston for several years. In 1963, he took a job as a mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Hermiston. He and his dog Lady walked the route together for many years. He later worked as a customer service clerk in the Hermiston post office until retiring in 1985.
Wayne was a 47-year member of the Hermiston Elks Lodge #1845, was nominated Elk of the Year in 1993 and 2002, and served as a chaplain for many years. He volunteered for 30 years at the Meadowood Golf Tournament, where he watched for a hole in one. He also volunteered for Meals on Wheels and at the Hermiston Senior Center. He enjoyed making his own wine, was a HAM radio operator, and repaired watches and clocks for many years.
He is survived by daughter, Julia Harris Rosner of Hermiston; stepdaughter, Carol Carter Obert of Wood Village; brother, Donald Harris of Eugene; grandchildren, Angela Rosner Eastwood of Grand Island, Neb., Jeff Rosner of Lake Forest, Calif., Misty Rosner Ritzel of Palm Bay, Fla., Nick Obert
of Wood Village, Julia Obert Chambers of Gresham and Elizabeth Obert Estey of Colton; eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jeanne in 2004; stepson, Roy W. Carter in 2002; and two sisters, Helen and Lois.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2018 at Burns Mortuary in Hermiston. A private family burial will be in the Hermiston Cemetery.
Memorial donations in Wayne’s memory can be made to the Hermiston Senior Center or to Vange John Memorial Hospice.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please go to burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
