Obituary of Kenneth R. Harris

Kenneth R. Harris of Cortland, NY, died on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at home with his beloved wife Carrie. He was 81 and was born April 23, 1936, in Binghamton, NY.

He attended Windsor High School, General Electric engineering school, and the University of Maryland. He served in Germany as an Airman First Class in the U.S. Air Force as a Russian language specialist. In 1957, he married his high school sweetheart, Carrie Wessels, and together they had one daughter, Lori, who is currently a lawyer with her own practice in Richmond, VA. Ken and Carrie move to Cortland in 1971 and were active in the United Presbyterian Church. Additionally, Ken was active in Kiwanis, the Cortland Elks club, the Cortland Country Club and various golf and bowling leagues. For over 40 years, Ken and Carrie daily made the journey to Syracuse to run their insurance agency, Midtown Insurance Agency of Syracuse. Their business was a fixture in the neighborhood and they both dedicated themselves to providing quality service with a personal touch as they took the time to know about and befriend all their clients. Many of their clients became clients because their parents and grandparents were clients. An intelligent, kind and open-minded person who loved travel, learning and reading, especially history books, Kenny also had a great sense of humor and playfulness. Next to spending time with Carrie and Lori, he enjoyed the company of his friends on the golf course or around a card table. He will be greatly missed.

Ken is survived by his wife, Carrie, his daughter Lori, his brothers Don (Betty Ann) and Tom (Mary) and sister Shel (Harry Shafer) and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Ken is predeceased by his parents, Donald and Edythe Harris and his brother Michael. A memorial service and celebratory gathering afterwards will be held at 11am, April 28, 2018, at the Cortland United Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cortland, NY 13045. Memorial donations may be made in Ken’s name to the Cortland United Presbyterian Church or Cortland Hospice. Go Yankees!!!