George Almon Harris (died 1945, aged 79)

Deceased Brethren

Here is a brief biography of George Almon Harris taken from his obituary in the Cowichan Leader newspaper:

“Harris – Mr. George Almon Harris, Duncan, passed peacefully away on Thursday in Duncan Hospital where he had been a patient for some time. He was in his 79th year, and had been in poor health for several years.

Besides his wife he leaves a son, Mr. Roy A. Harris, Nanaimo; a daughter, Mrs. H.D. Adams (Hazel), Calif.; and three grandsons. The older daughter, Fern, died in 1912 when 17 years old.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 16, 1943. Many relations and friends attended at that time, but celebrations were quiet as Mr. Harris was then in poor health.

Mr. and Mrs. Harris (formerly Mary Helen Gidley) were married on December 14, 1893 at Bob Caygeon, Ont. Mr. Harris was born in Lindsay, Ont. and they lived in Ontario until 1898, when they came to Victoria where they resided for two years.

In 1900 they arrived in Duncan. Their first home was in the house now used by Cowichan Public Library. Later they made their home on the townsite on the corner of Coronation Avenue and Ypres Street until they sold it recently and were living on Garden Street. Before his retirement due to ill health, Mr. Harris conducted an electrical and paint shop. A member of Masonic lodges in Canada for more than 50 years, Mr. Harris was a member of Temple Lodge.

Mr. Harris served a term on Duncan School Board and for a few years was captain of Duncan Volunteer Fire Department in its early years.

Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. W.F. Burns in Davis Funeral Chapel on Saturday afternoon. Interment followed in the United Church Cemetery, Somenos. Pallbearers were: Messrs. George H. Savage, Kenneth Duncan, Wm. Dwyer, James Grieg, W.B. Powel and R.J. Mason.”

(Source: Cowichan Leader, 16 August 1945 – from Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives collections)

George Almon Harris is buried in Mountain View Cemetery, North Cowichan.

Would you like to leave a comment or question about anything on this page?