Michael Wayne Harris

On July 12th, the world lost an incredible human being. Known as “The Missing Link” to his fellow air traffic controllers in the sixties, “Six Million Dollar Man” to his Filipino friends in the seventies, “Big Kahuna” to the New Bern Shriners, or simply “Big Mike” to his brother-in-laws, Michael Wayne Harris was a man who quietly connected to, and was dearly loved by, so many people during his adventurous 77 years of life. He was born to Lucy Johnson and Norman J. Harris in Norfolk, VA on May 24, 1947. For over fifty years he was known as “Dad” to his two sons, Mike and Brent, and more recently adopted the moniker “Popi” for his five grandchildren - Holden, Toby, Hayley, Kendall, and Harbour. Most of all, Michael was a devoted husband to his beloved wife, Bren, with whom he traveled the globe. They spent Michael’s final hours together in a UNC hospital room.

“Big Mike” haphazardly (and possibly rambunctiously) found a way to graduate from Frederick Military

Academy in 1965; and after a stint in the U.S. Army Air Traffic Control, he married the newly found love of his life, Bren Hooks, and began to serve in the Norfolk Motorcycle Police Division. Soon, with Bren’s

encouragement and support, Michael Wayne grabbed the reins and rode his academic potential to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Old Dominion University in 1974. Immediately after graduation, he would embark on what would become a legendary career as a Special Agent for NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service; formally known as NIS) that would involve tours on aircraft carriers, submarines, and living on the islands of Luzon (Philippines) and Puerto Rico. During his thirty-one years of service, Agent Harris would be honored for the following: NIS/NCIS Agent of the Year (twice), U.S. Department Of Defense Agent of the Year (Counterintelligence Investigation), US Attorney’s Office Southern District of FL Outstanding Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Department of the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award, as well as special accommodations from the FBI-CIA.

Retirement brought Michael to New Bern in 2003, where he and Bren built their dream house next to the water in Old Town. Daily missions to McDonalds for coffee would soon be replaced by a passion for golfing with friends at the New Bern Golf and Country Club and serving in the New Bern Shrine Club. Michael found so much joy and purpose in serving the Shriners as part of New Bern Court #145 Royal Order of Jesters and riding in the Cooligan’s unit with a monkey on his back. You could also find him serving Pepsi floats and popcorn in the Pepsi store on the corner of Middle Street in New Bern, where he took pride and joy in a part time job, sharing stories with locals and out of town visitors. Michael especially loved boating with his first mate, Bren, and claimed that one of his proudest moments was the journey they took together by boat from Florida to New Bern, up the intercoastal waterway, without using electronic navigation – only a compass, charts, and eyeball navigation. Michael and Bren were also known to leave the country quite often on wondrous romantic adventures throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia.

“Big Mike” was a man of integrity and principles; a man who could be wildly humorous yet also solemn; a man who collected trinkets and believed in writing in check book ledgers; and most importantly a man who loved his family deeply. His wish was to “go to the sea for the final time and swim with the dolphins.” Per Michael’s request, his ashes will be ceremonially spread in the waters off Emerald Isle, North Carolina as well as off the Florida coast. Services to honor Michael will be held at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern, NC on July 31 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children at Sudan Temple PO Box 12829, New Bern, NC 28560.