On Friday, October 6, 2023, John MacGregor Harris, 70, of Washington Boro, joined his beloved granddaughter, Anamarie, in eternity. John was a loving husband, tenacious father, doting grandfather, and dedicated friend. A native of Maine, he made his home in the fertile plains around Lancaster. Throughout his life, he was an irrepressible force of cultivation and creation. His children attest that a vegetable garden invariably appeared wherever he lived. If space and time were abundant, along would come countless dogs, cats, horses, cows, pigs and goats. Equally drawn to the mechanical as to the natural, John could often be found driving tractors, tinkering with model trains, appreciating construction equipment, and improving his home. His drive to build things also permeated his professional life, which he spent almost entirely in the construction industry, leading teams to build everything from single family homes to an expansion of the Safe Harbor Dam.
John's varied interests, combined with his curiosity, generosity, and wit, led him to make friends easily. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to a friend or neighbor in need (especially if the favor could double as a reason to deploy the tractor!). A certain tendency toward harmless embellishment of the facts made him an engaging storyteller, and he was seldom more content than when he captivated a roomful of listeners with his retellings. Even better if that room also held good food.
John is survived and sorely missed by his wife, Reesa, his children: Katie and Caleb. His stepchildren: Renee and Henry. His siblings: Carol and Charles. His children-in-law: Milancy, David and Jamie. His grandchildren: Joey, Nick and Abby, and many, many more.
The Funeral Service will be held at Washington Boro United Methodist Church, 1964 Water Street, Washington Boro, on Monday, October 16, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Carlene Wolf, officiating. Interment in Washington Boro Cemetery. Friends may call at the Workman Funeral Homes, Inc., 114 West Main Street, Mountville on Sunday from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. and also at the church on Monday from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Please omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: the Lewy Body Dementia Association or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To send an online condolence, visit the condolence page.