Obituary

I am Neal’s wife, Sharon. Neal will never be forgotten by his family and friends. I love that we have this location to keep Neal’s memory alive to anyone who wants to see a brief glimpse into his life. Neal was a very hard worker but once his day was done his favorite place to be was at home. Even after 22 years of marriage Neal and I looked forward to coming home to each other. Neal was a wonderful man with a great heart. It took time for him to let people in (you had to earn his trust & respect) but once you did he was loyal for life.

Neal loved all things Aviation. He could name any plane he heard flying overhead. His job was to fly the DC-6 for Everts Air Cargo. The picture on Neal’s Columbarium Wall is the picture of the plane he was blessed to fly every day.
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Eulogy by Willard Ellis (Brother-In-Law) 05-14-18

Good Morning everyone my name is Will Ellis and I am Neal’s brother-in-law. I will be presiding over Neal’s celebration of Life/Memorial Service. Before we start I ask that everyone silence their cell phones for the service.

I know there are many in this room who have also lost loved ones and know the sadness that brings. On behave of our family I want to thank you for attending and for all the thoughts and prayers, flowers, calls, messages, and support to Sharon during this time of loss and grief. It has meant a lot to her and provided much comfort.

I want to acknowledge the families who are with us today - Sharon’s sister Debbie & her nephew Sam; Neal’s brother Scott & his wife Flo, and his sisters Serena & Dia. I also welcome Flo’s family who has known Neal a long time. There are also other family members who could not be here; Neal’s sister Evelyn & brother Jesse, Sharon’s Mom & brother Keith, along with, nieces & nephews and other family members and friends, but they all send their thoughts & prayers and have provided much support and comfort.

Neal Walker Harris was born in Abilene TX on August 3rd, 1961 to Gerald and Shirley Ann Harris. He was the 5th child of Gerald and Shirley. Neal was preceded by his older brothers Dave, Scott, and Jesse and his older sister Evelyn. Neal was followed by his younger sisters Serena and Dia.
Shortly after Neal was born his parents moved to Anchorage, AK and to Elmendorf Air Force Base. Neal’s father was an Air Force Navigator on the C-130 Hercules aircraft. Neal grew up in Alaska on an Air Force base watching planes fly every day. This is where and when Neal probably developed his desire and love for Alaska and flying. Neal admired and looked up to his older brother Scott and the two of them enjoyed the frontier freedoms of Alaska and the tolerance Alaskans afforded to youthful indiscretions back then. When Neal was around 25 years old he moved to Cold Bay, AK an old WWII Air force Base and now Alaskan community, to work for Reeve Aleutian Air and Pen Air. Cold Bay boasted a population of approximately 175 people and the Community’s economy was tied first and foremost to the aviation industry and a remote second to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife National Izembeck Refuge.

It was in Cold Bay in January 1995 that Debbie and I first met Neal. Over the course of the next year I got to know and appreciate Neal and we ended up attending a Men’s Bible Study with several of our other friends and coworkers. It was during our men’s Bible Study that Neal came to know and love our Lord Jesus Christ as his savior. And if my memory serves me right it was our mutual friend Todd Cook that shared the gospel with Neal.

Cold Bay is also where Sharon met Neal. Sharon had come out to Cold Bay to visit her sister Debbie and our family. When I heard that Neal had passed away the first memory of Neal that came to my mind was that day he came over to my house while Debbie and Sharon were out somewhere (where I’m not sure, not too many places to go in Cold Bay, but they were out somewhere). We visited for a while and I sensed Neal had something he was wanting to ask me. After about 10 minutes visiting he finally asked me if Sharon was seeing anyone. I told him no and he asked me if I thought she would like to see him. I told him I did not know, but that I would let her know and encouraged him to follow up. Well as they say the rest is history. Neal did ask Sharon out and they began a long-distance relationship between Cold Bay and Kent, WA and about a year later they were married at the Space Needle in Seattle, WA.

After a brief interlude in WA State Neal and Sharon moved back to Alaska and Neal got a job with ERA Aviation as a mechanic. As we can see there is a reoccurring theme in Neal’s life and it was aviation. Sharon realized that Neal really wanted to be a pilot and together they planned and budgeted, so Neal could start taking flying lessons and earn his wings, he soon obtained his private pilot’s license.

It didn’t stop there, Neal then applied and got a job with Everts Air Cargo as a flight engineer on the DC 6 cargo planes. While flying as an FE with Everts, and again with Sharon’s love and encouragement, Neal went on to get his commercial pilot’s license and ATP. Not too long after Neal was promoted to Co-Pilot and Neal was living his dream. Neal flew with several Captains, and the Captain he most enjoyed flying with and learning from was Lester. Les and his wife Belle are also with us today. Neal and Les became great friends and Neal always tried to get on the same schedule with Les so they could fly together. The next step and goal Neal wanted to obtain was to become a Captain flying the DC6 with Everts and was very close to that goal before the Lord brought Neal home. Neal always said how blessed he was to fly every day and would often send pictures of the “view from his office”, beautiful sunrise pictures from the sky (they looked very close to heaven).

First as I look back at Neal’s life I see a man who loved the Lord.

Second, I see a man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to try and if he failed he got up, dusted himself off, tried again, and persevered until he succeeded.

Third, I see a man who recognized the love of his life and married Sharon. The two were a match made in heaven and every time I was with Neal or Sharon and the other was out of town they were always calling one another to check in and say I love you. They shared a deep love and commitment to one another that was commendable and an example to others.

Finally, I see a man that had a passion for flying and who with Sharon’s support and love made that dream come true.
As I look back on the 22+ years I knew Neal I see a couple of unique and special events in time and space involving several persons’ lives.

The first was Neal moving to Cold Bay, literally near the end of world

Second was Neal joining the men’s Bible study in Cold Bay

Third was Deb and I moving to Cold Bay and Sharon coming to visit

Fourth Neal asking Sharon out in Cold Bay

Fifth Neal and Sharon getting married and moving to Eagle River

Finally, Neal becoming a pilot with Sharon’s love and encouragement and flying with Everts Air
All of these events in time and space set into motion a chain of results that if one piece had not occurred Neal’s and Sharon’s life would have followed a totally different course. So, I ask the question were these events mere coincidence and chance, or was God’s hand involved in guiding those events. I certainly don’t believe it was happen stance.

As I conclude my comments I want to close with Sharon’s words which expresses her feelings and hope about her wonderful life with Neal
'Neal was & always will be the love of my life. I felt loved, cherished & protected by him every day. He had a great sense of humor & always made me laugh. I was blessed & privileged to have him in my life for 22 years. I will never understand why he had to go but my faith in God will get me through.'
Sharon, the Harris’ & our family want to say thank you to everyone for reaching out with your thoughts & prayers. It has meant more than anyone can know. Sharon will for sure need continued thoughts & prayers for many months to come.

And now, understanding it may be hard to get up in front of others, I would like to take this time to invite anyone who would like to share a fond memory or story about Neal to come up at this time.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father thank you for blessing us with knowing Neal and for him being a part of our lives. At these times it is hard for us to understand why a loved one is called home, especially when it is unexpected and so soon. But we can take comfort and hope in knowing Neal is with You in Heaven and that You will provide the strength and comfort to get us through this time of sorrow and grief. And Lord we ask for strength and comfort for Sharon and pray that the sorrow and grief we are experiencing will soon be replaced with the fond memories of Neal. We thank You for the love and support from family and friends. In Your Name we pray Amen.

On behalf of the family we want to thank everyone for coming. Please stay for light refreshments and visiting after.

* * * * * * * * * *

Neal Walker Harris, 56, passed away on May 5, 2018, suddenly and unexpectedly at home in Eagle River, Alaska.

Neal was born on Aug. 3, 1961, in Abilene, Texas. Neal moved to Anchorage, Alaska, with his family in 1964, and later lived in Cold Bay, Alaska, as well as Eagle River. Neal worked for Reeve Aleutian Air, PenAir, Era Aviation and Everts Air Cargo during his time in Alaska. He loved flying and was a member of APOA - Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Sharon states: 'Neal was a wonderful husband. He was the love of my life and our 22 years together was a true blessing from God. He will always be a part of my life and I take comfort in knowing we will be together for eternity with our Heavenly Father.'

Family states, 'Neal loved God, his wife Sharon, his family and flying in Alaska.'
Neal is survived by his wife, Sharon Harris of Eagle River; brother, Scott Harris of Kent, Wash.; brother, Jesse Harris of Portland, Ore.; sister, Evelyn Breland of Moses Lake, Wash.; sister, Serena Harris of Salem, Ore.; and sister, Día Blake of Portland, Ore.

Neal is preceded in death by his father, Gerald Harris; mother, Shirley Ann Harris; and brother, David Harris.
A celebration of life will be held on Monday, May 14, 2018, at 10 a.m., at Janssen's Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E Street, Anchorage, AK 99501.
Arrangements are with Janssen Funeral Homes.