Lanny Winston Harris

Lanny Winston Harris was born on November 13, 1941, in Union City, TN. Lanny graduated from Union City High School in 1959 and the University of Tennessee at Martin in 1961 with a degree in Chemistry. Lanny joined the U.S. Naval Reserves in 1963, attended the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, TN where he received his M.D. in 1965. He also married his first wife, Carol Bryant, in 1965 (div. 1992). After a short medical internship in Memphis, Lanny was called to active duty in January 1967. Lanny trained at Camp Lejeune, NC and Gulfport, MS and then served as the Medical Officer with 128th Mobile Construction Battalion (Seabees) in Da Nang, Vietnam from Oct. 1967 to July 1968. He was honorably discharged at the rank of Lieutenant in January 1969. Following his service, Lanny began his residency in general surgery before moving to Kansas City to complete a residency in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Kansas Medical Center in 1970. Lanny first worked with Kansas City Bone and Joint, which provided medical support for the Kansas City Chiefs (NFL) and Kansas City Kings (NBA). In 1980, Lanny started a private practice in orthopedics which he continued until 1998 before joining Johnson County Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. Lanny retired in May of 2019 completing a remarkable 54 years of medical practice.

In addition to his passion for his work, Lanny also enjoyed flying as a private pilot, which he began training for after his 40th birthday. After receiving his private pilot’s license, Lanny used his new skill to fly to smaller towns in Kansas and Missouri to provide specialized orthopedic care at more rural hospitals and clinics. He went on to earn commercial pilot and flight instructor ratings for single and multiengine planes.

Lanny and his wife, Connie, were married in 1995 and enjoyed over 29 years together. They worked together in the medical field and shared a love of sports, especially University of Tennessee Basketball. They loved to eat out, go to movies, and travel. Some of their favorite destinations were New Orleans, Florida beaches and anywhere their children and grandchildren lived.

Lanny was the recipient of a liver transplant on Christmas Day 2005 and he and his family are eternally grateful for the gift of life by the organ donor which allowed Lanny to live 19 additional years and provide medical care for an additional 14 years.

Lanny died at Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center on April 15, 2024. He was 82 years old.

Lanny is survived by his wife, Connie Harris and his four children and their spouses: Lanny Bryant and Heidi Lipkie Harris of Centennial, CO; Michael Brennan and Terri Hamlett Harris of Williamsburg, VA; Nash and Juliana Krekovich of Kansas City, MO; and Cara and Stephen Pile of Wichita, KS. He is also survived by his six grandchildren Kayleigh Jo Harris of Northampton, MA, Sydney Katherine Harris, Jacob “Jake” Andrew Harris of Williamsburg, VA and Aubry Michael Harris and Oliver Bryant Harris of Centennial, CO; and Stephen Dexter Pile of Wichita, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents Jesse Winston Harris and Ruth Gates Harris.

Lanny will be remembered in a private memorial service by his family, but we encourage you to share your stories about Lanny with us. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Villa St. Francis Catholic Care Center which provided excellent care in his last days or to the Organ Donor Program Fund at P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570 to support organ donation.