Richard Earl "Dick" Harris, 88, Clermont, FL passed away August 10, 2011 at the Mike Conley Hospice House.  He was born in Florence, S.C., December 22, 1922. His family moved to Graceville in 1924 where he attended school and graduated Valedictorian from GHS in 1940. He began College in 1940. At the beginning of World War II, he joined the U.S. Marines, where he earned a Field Commission, served as a Rifle Platoon Leader in the Pacific, was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart with a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Purple Heart. He married his sweetheart, Audrey Miner, and returned to the University of Florida for his senior year. He graduated from U. of F. Pharmacy School in 1947, earned his Florida Pharmacy License and moved to Lake County, first to Leesburg and in 1950, to Clermont. Dick Harris is a devoted follower of Jesus. He was married to Mary Audrey Harris for 65 years. He has five children to include Terry Robert (Nancy) Harris, Montverde, FL; Sara Dee (Thomas) Kerr, Clarksville, GA; Paula Jean (Steve)Fleming, Fayetteville, NC; Mary Kathryn (Danny) Jones, Clermont  and Richard Kirk Harris,Maryville, TN. His grandchildren include: Heath Harris; Kerry and Joshua Kerr; John, Brian and Karen Fleming; Brad, Dax, and Danielle Jones; Robert, Nicole and Samuel Harris.   Great grandchildren include: Ethan Hugo Harris, Rhea Ann Tressler,  Micah Hamilton, Samantha Grace, Colby Wayne Jones & Jordan Rios. He has been a Consulting Pharmacist in Lake County Florida since 1947 and takes great pride in having been able to help thousands of people during those years. He and J. Russell Grant bought Smith's Drug Store (formerly Scott's Pharmacy for 40 years) and renamed to Grant-Harris Drug Store, Inc., which they operated until December 1968. At that time, they sold to and joined Jack Eckerd Corp. Dick retired in 1989, but began a homeopathic product line called R.E. Harris, Inc. Dick has been active in the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Associated, Clermont First United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts since 1950; American Legion since 1945; and Lions Club since 1948. He has been honored by a myriad of organizations to include: the South Lake Rotary Club; the Clermont "Lend-A-Hand" Club; the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Florida. When he retired, March 31, 1989 was proclaimed "Dick Harris Day" by then Mayor Bob A. Pool and the Clermont City Council. Dick published two books: "Yesterday's Remedies for Today's Ills" and "My Grandfather's Saying."







I loved and admired my Dad! He was a servant with a heart as a lion! He lived each day as a gift from God. He loved his God, wife, children, grandchildren, parents, friends and country like no one else I have ever seen! I will miss him greatly! Kirk



Never knew if dad was a Burns (his mother's maiden name - meaning serious Scotsman) or a Marine first. Actually they both significantly reinforced each other.



Dad caught all of his Lake County fish in 'Wet Lake'. He caught a bunch and lost, as many or more. The problem with the lakes in Lake County is that all the lakes are wet. Abe



I wanted to share that I always noticed & admired how Dad was eager to help people in the drug store with their medical needs no matter what their socio-economic background was. Paula



Both Dick Harris and Dru Rambo were true pillars of Old Clermont, both of whom helped shape and mold each of us - often in ways that we are not even aware of. Their faithfulness to friends and family, and to God and country, will continue to serve as examples and inspiration to all who knew and loved them. They both lived life fully and were a blessing to many. I knew Dick much better than Dru, but both were mentors in their own way. Among their many gifts: from Dick I learned forthrightness and the lessons of confidence and courage: from Dru, the lessons of humility and humor; and from both, the lessons of fellowship and concern for others. To both men a stranger was only a person who was not yet their friend. They were wonderful men. They will be missed - and we will never see their like again. May we continue to celebrate their lives while we mourn their passing from us.  May their families find peace and joy in their memories and their assurance that all is well....  Bill Clay, wonderful family friend











My life has been blessed beyond belief being a part of the Harris household for the past 35 years. But the Lord has especially blessed me by allowing me to become the daughter-in-law of such a man as Richard Harris. He was a presence larger than life to me: a man of integrity with solid moral values. He was a strict disciplinarian; a lover of family, friends, and country but also tinged with heartfelt compassion for all of humanity who had the privilege of coming across his path. Nancy



Papa: my hero, healer, storyteller, wishmaker and role model. I remember as a child sitting in his lap and begging for more "gator stories". All of those stories fill my heart, as do my memories of a wonderful man. I am truly blessed to be a granddaughter of Richard Harris. I will always have a little red suitcase packed and ready for him. Kerry Dee



In lieu of flowers, if you desire please donate to one of the following: Mike Conley Hospice House, 2100 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont, FL 34711; Southeast Guide Dogs, (A Lion's Club Charity) 4210 77th St. East, Palmetto, FL 34221 or First United Methodist Church, 950 7th St., Clermont, FL 34711.







The funeral sevice for Dick Harris will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at First United Methodist Church of Clermont. Reverend Doug Kokx & Reverend Duane Zoller will officiate. Burial with US Marine Corp honors will follow in Florida National in Bushnell, FL.