Frederick John Harris, born of John Carl and Rose Mary Higgins Harris, departed this world at the age of 69 at his home on the Santa Fe Trail Ranch, Trinidad, Colorado, on Friday, June 24, 2022, after battling cancer for several years survived by his wife, Elsie Harris. Fred, who was raised Catholic, was involved tangentially with the local Mennonite community along with Elsie, who grew up in the Mennonite community, in Pennsylvania.
Fred was born on November 11, 1952, and grew up in the back woods of Montour County, Pennsylvania.
Fred was a graduate of Penn State University where he studied math, science, physics, and philosophy, graduating with an associate degree in Forest Technology, in 1974 and a BS in Forest Science, in 1978. During those years, he was employed by the federal government as a forest firefighter in the VA western states.
When he and Elsie moved to Colorado around four years ago, he had his very own western forest of 37+ acres to play with, planting Douglas Fir trees and nurturing them as they grew and thinning the existing forest for fire mitigation and forestry health. He was active right up until the last few weeks before his death, enjoying life to the utmost, doing all of the things he loved.
Leaving behind, his wife Elsie S. Harris, Kathryn Kriskern, sister of Richmond, VA, Barbara Clement, aunt, of Shamokin, PA, David Zaborni, nephew, and Karen Demott, niece, both of Richmond, VA, and many cousins.
A memorial service will be held at Comi Funeral Home, located at 1804 E. Main St, Trinidad, CO on July 19, 2022, at 2:00 pm.
Arrangements are made under the direction of The Comi Funeral Home.
