Joseph Harris

Joseph Melvin Harris, 50, died suddenly Tuesday, June 18, 2013, at Lovelace Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. A memorial service will be held at Hood Mortuary, 1261 E. 3rd Avenue in Durango, at 2 p.m. Monday, June 24, 2013, with Pastor Scott Kujath officiating. He was born June 26, 1962, in Durango, Colo., the son of Melvin E. and Mary Joanne Harris. He grew up in Durango and attended schools there before briefly moving to Taos and Gallup, N.M. Later he would settle in Albuquerque where he and his family would spend the remainder of his years. He met his wife, Michelle White, in 1982. They married in Durango on September 28, 1985, and were together for more than 30 years. He will be remembered as a good husband, father, brother, and friend who enjoyed his family and shared his passions of boating, fishing, camping, and, much to the chagrin of his siblings, he was a devoted Green Bay Packer fan throughout his life. Joe also enjoyed history and taught his sons to question everything! For most of his adult life, Joe worked at Dee’s Cheesecake Factory in outside sales where he received many accolades and awards for his outstanding service and sales achievements. He is survived by his wife, Michelle (White) Harris of Albuquerque, his sons Joseph Harris and Michael Harris both of Albuquerque; his mother, Mary Joanne (Hastings) Harris of Durango; his siblings: J. Russell Foster (spouse: Glenda) of Bradshaw, Neb.; Johnny L. Foster (spouse: Debbie Ann) of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; Yvonne (Vonnie) McCallum (spouse: William McCallum) of Aspen and Denver, Colo.; Deborah Longwell (spouse: Stanley) of Durango; and Cynthia Lindquester (spouse: Rick) of Phoenix, Ariz.; his aunt, Anita Lewis of Aztec, N.M.; six cousins, eight nieces, five nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Melvin E. Harris, his maternal grandparents; Homer F. and Mary Casey Hastings; and his niece, Michaela Dawn Rambo. Graveside interment will be in the Reese Family Plot at Greenmount Cemetery, Durango, Colorado, following the memorial service on June 24. A “celebration of life” reception will be held immediately following the graveside interment.