News Item: Obituary: Michael Harris
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 -- Add News
Funeral Services Program
Michael George Harris was born on 24 June 1937 in Ventura, California. He was the son of Arlo W. Harris and Marguerite Fisher Harris. Michael is the oldest of three children including Ella A. Christensen of Kanosh, Utah, and Jon A. Harris (deceased).
Michael grew up in Ojai near his Grandpa and Grandma Harris who had moved to the valley in the 1920's. During the war, the Harris family moved to Oxnard, California, where they stayed until Michael was a freshman in high school. In 1952, they moved to Crescent, Oregon. Michael graduated from Gilchrist High School in 1955.
Michael attended Brigham Young University three years. He interrupted his schooling to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served for just over two and a half years in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Michael arrived home from his mission and returned to BYU, graduating with his B.A. in art in 1963. In February of 1963, he married LindaGay Dean, who grew up in Riverside, California. They met while attending art classes at BYU. He finished his student teaching and master's degree in 1964.
After graduation, Michael started his first professional job teaching art at Norte Vista High School in Riverside, California. Michael and LindaGay moved back to Ventura County, California, in 1970. Michael taught art at Channel Islands High School until about 1977, at which time he moved to Adolfo Camarillo High School. This is where he taught until his retirement in 1997.
Michael was very involved with serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his lifetime. He served in leadership in the Camarillo area from about 1975 to 1996. In 1997, he was called to serve as Mission President in Taipei, Taiwan (1997 to 2000). He was again able to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Taiwan, 36 years after his original service.
Michael's life was full of service to others. He was always looking for ways to help those that needed a lift. He was able to serve others through work, church, and family. He also enjoyed sharing his skills of art and design. Most of his art was shared with others as gifts for special occasions. There are hundreds of his prints displayed in homes of friends and relatives across the country. He loved to do printmaking (silkscreen, lithography, and woodblock). He also painted with oils and acrylic on canvas and board. His love for art and drawing was a passion of his from his earliest years and continued throughout his life.
Michael and LindaGay have lived in Camarillo for 47 years. Michael is survived by his wife LindaGay, daughter Laura, sons, Jonathan (Jennifer) and Nathan, four grandchildren (Jonah, Marguerite, Elijah, and Michael), and his sister, Ella A. Christensen.
Memorial services will be held at 10 am Saturday, October 28, 2017 at the LDS Las Posas Chapel, 4345 Las Posas Road, Camarillo, CA.
Published in Ventura County Star on Oct. 26, 2017
|
| |
|
|
|
List All | Add News |
