Del was born on February 23, 1933 in Bono, Arkansas to Alvin & Naomi Harris. He graduated from Highland HS in 1951. Del met his one and only true love, Frances Lea in 1951. He knew from the moment he saw her that she was the girl of his dreams and they were married on Halloween in 1953 in Yakima, WA. Del served as a Sargent in the US Army in the 7th Armored Division as a Heavy Weapons Infantryman from 1953-1955. He worked for his father at their families service station, for his brother, Bill, at Bill’s Used Cars in Selah and together with his partner opened up Harris & Allen Used Cars in 1968 in Yakima. In 1982 he opened Del Harris Motors in Yakima.
During their 60 years of marriage Del and Fran raised two children together, a daughter Diana & a son Mike. They loved camping & fishing in the Little Naches area with friends and family where Del also enjoyed riding his dirt bike. Del loved fast pitch softball and was an avid Seattle Mariners fan.
Del had a huge heart. He never met a stranger that he wasn’t willing to engage in conversation with. He was a kind, loving and loyal husband, father and friend. After Fran became ill due to complications from a debilitating stroke, he took care of her for 15 years making sure she had anything and everything she needed. Del loved his family and enjoyed spending holiday’s, birthdays and family gatherings together. He had plans to go to Disneyland in 2019 but had to cancel those plans due to Covid.
Del is survived by his daughter, Diana (Mike) Deatherage, his son, Mike (Trina) Harris; 4 grandsons, Chris (Jill) Deatherage, Jason (Darlene) Harris, Jake Harris, Brandon (Karissa) Kelley & 1 granddaughter Amanda (Josh) Armstrong; 10 great grandchildren; his sister Estelle and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his beloved Frannie, his grandson Dan Deatherage, his brother Bill and sister Juanita.
The family would like to thank the residents and staff at Orchard Park for making his new home a place that he enjoyed and loved to be a part of. A special thank you to Gloria, for being such a great friend and for checking in on him when we were not able to. We would also like to thank the nursing staff and doctors who took exceptional care of our beloved Del.
