Harris, Z.

Family/Spouse: ?, K.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

S. + ?, K.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: HARR.G005
• _FGRAVE: 219415520
• Military Service: Viet Nam War, Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry,196th Light Infantry Brigade, United States Army

Notes:

George “Mick” Harris of Mt. Olive, Illinois, passed away at 5:33 a.m. on Saturday, December 5th, 2020 at St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, Illinois. He was 74 years young at his passing.

Mick was born on September 2nd, 1946 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to the late Lloyd Russell Harris and Erma Frances (Batchelor) Harris. He attended grade school in Sailor Springs, Illinois and later graduated from Clay City high school in 1964. He married Trudy Lynn (Gordon) Harris from Clay City in September 1966.

Mick is survived by his wife of 54 years, Trudy, their son Scott (Kelly) Harris of Huntsville, Alabama, his sister Linda Davidson and three brothers Wayne (Josephine), Fred (Peggy), Tom (Gayle) Harris, all residing in Sailor Springs, Illinois, and two grandchildren Zach (Katie) and Abigail Harris of Huntsville, Alabama. He was preceded in death by both parents.

Mick was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the Army as an infantryman from 1966-1968. He returned safely from his tour just weeks before the 1968 Tet Offensive initiated leading to heavy casualties suffered within his former unit, 3-21st,196th Light Infantry Brigade. He had attained the rank of Sergeant (E-5) prior to receiving an honorable discharge.

He went on to a 30-year career with UPS as package delivery driver covering both Staunton and Bunker Hill, Illinois. He was inducted into their "Circle of Honor" for never having an accident over that entire period. He was an avid bass fisherman and hunter (quail, pheasant, and deer). Mick was an early and long-time member of the Gillespie Bass Club, winning a number of tournaments, angler of the year, and served as a club officer. Upon retirement he helped his brothers on the family farm until suffering a stroke almost 10 years ago.

Graveside services will take place at Clay City Cemetery, Clay City Illinois on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. Deacon Don Woods will be officiating.

Military Funeral Honors by the Clay City and Sailor Springs American Legion Post. Masks and social distancing will be required. The service will be recorded and posted to his obituary tribute wall.

Memorial offerings are suggested to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV, https://www.dav.org/) or Esophageal Cancer Awareness (https://www.ecaware.org/),....Or please just go plant a tree with your children and find a Vietnam Veteran to thank for their service. They all arrived home to a much different welcome than any other group of veterans before or after.

Becker and Son Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Military Service:
Mick was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the Army as an infantryman from 1966-1968. He returned safely from his tour just weeks before the 1968 Tet Offensive initiated leading to heavy casualties suffered within his former unit, 3-21st,196th Light Infantry Brigade. He had attained the rank of Sergeant (E-5) prior to receiving an honorable discharge.

Buried:
Graveside services will take place at Clay City Cemetery, Clay City Illinois on Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11 a.m. Deacon Don Woods will be officiating. Military Funeral Honors by the Clay City and Sailor Springs American Legion Post. Masks and social distancing will be required. The service will be recorded and posted to his obituary tribute wall: https://www.beckerandson.com/obituary/George-Harris.

George + Gordon, T.L.. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: HARR.L011
• _FGRAVE: 22889358
• Funeral: Summers-Kistler Funeral Home, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois
• Military Service: World War II, Lieutenant, United States Navy

Notes:

Lloyd Russell Harris, 96, of Clay City, died at 11:45 a.m. Monday, November 12, 2007, at Flora Healthcare Center in Flora.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Summers-Kistler Funeral Home in Clay City. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Minister Darrell Brandon officiating. Burial with full military rites will be in Clay City Cemetery.

Mr. Harris was born July 11, 1911, in Clay County, the son of Walter and Lida (Crackel) Harris. He married Frances Batchelor on June 10, 1939, in Sharpsburg, N.C. She survives.

He was a graduate of Eastern Illinois Teachers College with a degree in Industrial Arts. He taught in Rocky Mount, N.C. and at Clay City High School. He was also a retired farmer.

Mr. Harris was a member of Sailor Springs Christian Church and Clay City Christian Church. His memberships included the Sailor Springs Post of the American Legion, serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a lieutenant; past president of the Clay County Farm Bureau; charter member of the Sailor Springs Ruritan; charter member of the Sailor Springs Historic Foundation; Clay County Health Department Board.

He is survived by his wife, Frances Harris, of Clay City; daughter, Linda Davidson and her husband, Leon, of Sailor Springs; sons, Robert Wayne Harris and his wife, Josephine, of Clay City, George Michael Harris and his wife, Trudy, of Mt. Olive, Fredrick William Harris and his wife, Peggy, of Clay City, and Thomas R. Harris and his wife, Gayle, of Clay City; sister, Maytle Marie Harris, of Flora; brother-in-law, Arthur Laughton, of Clay City; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

Mr. Harris was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Helen Laughton; and daughter-in-law, Bonnie Harris.

Memorials may be made to Clay City Christian Church Building Fund.

Funeral:
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with Minister Darrell Brandon officiating.

Military Service:
Enlisted and accepted a commission as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade in 1943 at Anacostia, Virginia. Trained as a Gunnery Officer at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. Served as such in the Panama Canal Zone for most of his tour of duty. Earned the American Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. Separated from active service in 1945 at Norfolk, Virginia.

This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.

Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=1932939

Buried:
Burial with full military rites will be in Clay City Cemetery.

Lot 11 - 2 Add - Row 15

Lloyd married Batchelor, Erma Frances on 10 Jun 1939 in Sharpsburg, North Carolina. Erma (daughter of Batchelor, Manual Andrew and Hedgespeth, Tassie Ballard) was born on 4 Feb 1917 in Sharpsburg, North Carolina; died on 10 Oct 2010 in St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham, Effingham County, Illinois; was buried in Clay City Cemetery, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: BATC.E001
• Funeral: Clay City Christian Church, Clay City, Clay County, Illinois

Notes:

She graduated from Meredith College, Raleigh, N.C.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Sailor Springs Christian Church and later the Clay City Christian Church. She was also a member of the Sailor Springs American Legion Auxiliary, Clay City Garden Club IV and a charter member of the Sailor Springs Historical Foundation.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Reference Number: GORD.R003
• _FGRAVE: 18348976
• Military Service: World War II, Seaman First Class, United States Navy

Notes:

Military Service:
Enlisted on March 17, 1945 and entered active service as an Apprentice Seaman on May 7, 1945 at the Navy Recruiting Station, Springfield, Illinois. Completed boot camp at Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, with further training at Naval Air Technical Training Center, Corpus Christi, Texas. Assigned to and served aboard the Escort Carrier USS Barron CVE-115. Honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class on August 9, 1946 at Naval Personnel Separation Center, Unit #4, Great Lakes, Illinois. Earned the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal.

This information has been posted on the National World War II Memorial's Registry of Remembrances website by Robert Medley Gatewood. It is entered here with his permission.

Source: http://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registry/plaque.aspx?honoreeID=2187054

Russell married Hunley, D.J. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]