Vernon Gomez Harris 1932---- to

A lot of family fellowship at Vernon's

The giant tire swing, a challenge for everyone at the reunions, or any visit. Kids loved it. Sherry went on it even.

Jam sessions were always the rule of the day.

Vernon Gomez Harris
Sherry’s brother ( the favorite of all three sisters I think) has been a hero to the family. He is a decorated green beret war hero. One of the many boys who joined the military at 14, 15 & 16, and was discovered and sent back to mama and daddy until they were old enough to join legally.

Vernon was always sort of a with-drawn person, had his own personal bouts with memories and adapting. One thing was for sure, he is a health nut. Always looking for something to keep him alive and moving. Vernon & his wife Janet bought a nice home that was run down,with a very small brook on it. He had a job as Boiler tender at the mill on the mid shift, and he used his daylight hours to learn landscaping and tree trimming. He concreted alarge area where the brook was and dammed it, creating a nice pond. He had me to build him a large gazebo by the pond. They started entertaining family there, all the reunions and special events were there. He put a loosely knit band together of old, very good musicians and they entertained there. This grew and he became the center of the entertainment.

He & Janet sold their beautiful garden spot and moved into a low maintenance area. He was too busy to keep it up. His local entertainment had grown to nursing homes and Holy Angels the local Catholic run care facility. He retired from the mill and took up tree trimming as a past time. No tree was too big for him to tackle. I have seen him climb a tree with two chain saws running and hanging from his belt. He constantly fights arthritis, he has a pouch full of toys and candy for any child he runs into. He will sometimes be on the floor in a fast food restaurant playing jack rocks (remember that). His favorite toy is the yo yo.

For years now we have all been after Vernon to quit climbing trees. The allure was just too great. He had grown to love the attention. Folks gathered to watch him scamper up a tree like a monkey. He made it look easy and like fun.

That came to an end (we hope) Saturday when he fell coming down from trimming a large oak. As of now we do not know the medical diagnosis, but we have been told he has a separated pelvis and all the ligaments torn from his right arm. If you speak to the Lord, mention Vernon he is truly one of the good guys. The seniors will miss his jokes and antics until he is back on his feet again, which I have no doubt he will be. The band will continue at Holy Angels, Shirl and the cast will keep the ball rolling until he gets back. He is 76 and getting younger. His education now will have reached the masters level in free fall. His parachute jumps from thousands of feet were nothing like the short free fall of 15 or 20 feet.

Vernon has received a truck load of awards for his volunteer service.
That is Vernon!
NIte Shipslog

PS:
Recipe for Living:
To your enemy - Forgiveness;
To an opponent - Tolerance;
To a friend - Your heart ;
To a customer - Service;
To all men - Charity;
To every child -A good good example ;
To yourself - Respect

Three things God requires of us:

Have Mercy –
Do Justly –
Walk Humbly