Carl Curtis Harris

July 21, 2015

Carl Curtis Harris, died Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at Grand Island, Nebraska, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. Carl Curtis Harris, son of Eugene Dale and Ellen Marie (Karns) Harris, was born February 23, 1927, in Dodge City, KS, the fourth of eight children; he died Tuesday, July , 21, 2015, at Grand Island, Nebraska, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.After graduating from high school in Dodge City, Carl served in the United States Army at Ft. Benning, Georgia, during WWII and was honorably discharged in December 1946. He then moved to McPherson, KS, where he earned a mathematics education degree from McPherson College. On October 14, 1951, Carl married Helen Irene Osmer. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage before Helen’s death in 2007. This union was blessed with three children and eight grandchildren. Carl taught high school math and science for one year in Hanston, KS, and five years in Burrton, KS, before returning to McPherson in 1958. He taught math at McPherson High School for the next 33 years, retiring in 1991. Upon retirement, Carl’s days were spent meeting his fellow retirees for coffee twice daily, gardening, playing dominoes and cards, and traveling with Helen. He was a devoted husband and beloved father and grandfather. Carl was a kindhearted, caring person who always looked for the positive in people and situations, and his bright smile and deep, jovial laugh were contagious. His family always looked forward to his freshly baked cookies, warm hugs, and sage advice. He enjoyed a good pipe, a crisp pastry, and a new shirt. He especially took pleasure in mornings on his deck, sipping a cup of coffee as he surveyed his flowers and listened to the birds.As his Alzheimer’s advanced, Carl moved to Nebraska to be near family in 2009. He died peacefully at the Nebraska Veteran’s Home in Grand Island, NE, on July 21, 2015. Carl was preceded in death by his wife Helen; brothers Ernest (Mariam) and Gene (Eileen); sisters Grace Embers, Naomi Cook (Bryce), Esther Martin (Dale), and Rena Ruth Pyle (Don).He is survived by his sister Joan Smith(Edgar); brother-in-law Bob Embers; daughter Linda Allman (Dale) from Texas; sons Curtis (Sherrie) of Granbury, TX, and Drew (Amy) of Hebron, NE; grandchildren Scott, Roslyn, Nathaniel (Lauren), Zachary (Megan), Benjamin Carl, Cole, Hank, and Maggie; great-grandchildren Marcus and Paxton; and a host of nephews, nieces, friends, and former students.Graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, August 15, 2015 at the McPherson Cemetery, McPherson, Kansas.Memorials in memory of Carl are suggested to the MHS (McPherson High School) Math Department, McPherson, Kansas or the Alzheimer’s Association and they can be sent in care of the Glidden - Ediger Funeral Home; 222 West Euclid Street; McPherson, Kansas 67460.