Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Joy Harris Memorial
Joy Harris Memorial

Joy Harris

Joy Harris

Saturday, July 3rd, 2021

Joy Harris, 91, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on July 3, 2021 after a courageous 20-month battle with cancer.  He was born February 9, 1930 to Leander and Della (Brawley) Harris near Chilton, Missouri.

After moving to Washington in 1950, he met and married his wife Margaret (Derksen).  They raised two sons, Marvin and Mark between Conway and Cockerham Island Road.  After the boys were grown, they moved to Sedro-Woolley where they spent the last 35 years.  Joy worked a variety of jobs over the years including farming, logging, road construction for Scott paper, heavy equipment operator and septic installer.  Even in retirement he continued to work, caretaking the Hamilton Cemetery and cutting firewood.  Joy enjoyed the great outdoors, hunting, fishing and especially clam digging with his grandchildren.

Joy will be missed by his wife, Margaret Harris; son, Mark (Valencia) Harris; granddaughters, Tracy Yorke, Jessica (Jake) Fitzgerald; great grandchildren, Kiahna Fitzgerald, Riliegh Yorke, Brock Fitzgerald; numerous nieces, nephews, friends and many more.

He was preceded in death by his son, Marvin Harris; parents, Leander and Della Harris; sisters, Mazel Casteel, Lurtia Sisco, Thelma Moore, Lucille Bales and Maye Provance.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11:00, Sunday, July 11, 2021 at the Hamilton Cemetery, followed by a gathering at the Lyman City Park.

Share your memories of Joy and sign the online guest register.

Guestbook

  • Mark J Harris

    Thanks to all who attended Dads service, and signed the guest book. As I said at the service, he didn’t know he had so many friends. A special thanks to Lemley Chapel that handled it, it was done in a timely and professional manner. I cannot say enough good things about them.

  • Bill Hayton

    Joy was employed by my father, Leroy, to work on our farm, primarily to milk the cows. There were about 50 cows to be milked twice a day, and fed and cleaned up after, along with calves and young stock. It was a big, hard job and Joy was excellent at the task. He, Margaret, Marvin and Mark lived in a house on the farm during the period of my life when I was 12 – 18 years old. I spent a lot of time with Joy. We were good friends, and we hunted rabbits with beagle dogs most weekends during the hunting season. During winter months I would help him load a two-days supply of pea silage on the farm truck on Saturday so he would not have to go on Sunday. Then we would go hunting. He was one of two adult men who were both friends and mentors during my formative years. I have never forgotten him and I am much saddened by his passing.

  • John and Julie Robbins

    We have enjoyed his company for many years.He came in style to our house, on his riding lawn mower!We also enjoyed all those wonderful fresh eggs and his flocks of birds. Thanks, Joy

  • herb and judy hansen

    We are so sorry about Joys passing. He and Margaret and the boys were our nei ghbors on Cockreham island and were always a pleasure . The kind of neighbor everyone would want. We felt it was a privelege to know them. Our deepest sympathies to Margaret and the rest of he family. deepest regards, Herb and Judy Hansen and family

  • Norm & Linda Mitchell

    To the Harris Family,
    We are so sorry to read of the loss of Joy. We always enjoyed the visits we had along the way through the years. Our sincere sympathy to all of you.

  • Donnie Harris-Flachs

    Joy, had spent a lot of time in his very young life hanging out with my Dad, Ira Harris, from Van Buren, MO. I heard about Joy when Dad talked about their “events”! Joy visited my parents a couple of times in Missouri.