William (Bill) Harris of Desert Cove, Vernon, passed away March 10, 2003 at age 79 after a long battle with degenerative kidney disease. He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Betty, 2 daughters, Beverley (Bassano, Alta.) and Brenda (Maple Ridge, BC), 2 grandchildren Nicole and David, 1 sister Beverley Beauvais and nephews Tim, Wayne, Roy and Teddy.
We would also like to include all his friends from B.C. Tel (Telus) where he worked for 38 years and retired from 20 years ago in Abbotsford.
Bill joined the Navy during the war and was a survivor of the H.M.C.S. Nabob which was torpedoed off the coast of Norway. After the war, Bill, being an exceptional athlete, joined professional lacrosse where he played mostly in the uniform of the Vancouver Burrards, who won the prestigious Mann Cup in 1945 and 1949. He was inducted into the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in New Westminster on October 14, 1978.
Bill was an avid golfer and enjoyed his years playing with his American and B.C. Telephone friends. He was a member of the Army and Navy Club in Vernon and special thanks to all who made his Saturday at the Meat Draw one of his (and his daughter's) favorite pastimes.
The family would like to thank Dr. Pritchett and all the nurses on the 3rd floor East at Vernon Jubilee Hospital for making his last days with us as comfortable as possible.
There will be no funeral or memorial service, as these were his wishes, so to all his many friends, we hope that you will say your good-byes in your own special way. Bill was a very special man, a good husband, father and grandfather to his family and an exceptional friend to the great many people he called friend. We will miss you, dear man, but you will remain in our hearts forever.