Douglas Harlan Harris

Obituary
Doug Harris
DOB: 12-18-1953
Place: McMinnville
Parents names: Harlan & Bettylou Harris
Date of Death: 2-25-2022
Place of Death: St. Charles Hospital, Bend

Education:
High school - North Eugene, 1972
University of Oregon, 1978

While studying at the University of Oregon he changed his major from business to elementary education. He made this change because he realized he wanted to be a family man more than a business man, and valued the quality time with his future family that a teaching job would provide. Upon graduating, Doug immediately took a job in Madras, Oregon teaching fourth grade. Two years later he married his best friend and the love of his life Sara.

Doug and Sara met when Sara was 7 and Doug was 12 years old. They became across the creek neighbors and also working buddies in the bean fields where Doug was the older weigh boy. Years later when Doug had moved to Madras and was starting his first year of teaching he began dating Sara. She really didn’t want to date him at first because she was worried they’d have nothing to talk about. She never felt that way again. Their marriage was always the greatest example of love to so many. Together they were blessed with their three children; Andrew, Amy and Katie.

Doug taught at Madras elementary for 30 years (15 years as a fourth grade teacher and 15 years as a third grade teacher). He loved working with kids and during his teaching breaks he would go spend his time playing kickball and basketball with the students at recess. He also loved reading funny stories to the kids to which he would laugh so hard he could barely finish a story. He taught with many wonderful life-long friends that he enjoyed playing pranks with and on. Each summer break from teaching, he spent making memories with his family by camping, fishing and going to the beach. He loved getting involved in each of his children’s sports: often running with Amy for track and cross-country, or playing tennis with Andrew and Katie. Whatever his children took an interest in, he was equally just as interested. Yet the way he loved his children most was in the way he demonstrated his love and commitment to Sara and to God.

Doug was also blessed with 10 grandchildren. As each one came into his life he enjoyed the time watching their activities, playing, tickling, teaching them games, adventuring and praying for them. He had a very special relationship with each one of them and cherished every minute of their life.

Upon retirement he became involved in teaching at Awana club and Good news club, both programs that value sharing the gospel with children. The past few years it was a joy for him to serve the Lord in prayer and ministry to kids at Living Hope Church where he saw the gospel of Jesus always shared. There was nothing he valued more than placing the word of God in the hearts of each person, especially children. His love and passion for God’s word led him to serve in many capacities but his greatest joy was always serving kids.

More than anything Doug lived his life as if he was ready to lose it. He wanted to live in a way that best loved Jesus and loved others. He wanted to give his all because Jesus gave His all for him.

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