Robert V. Harris

Robert Harris passed away on Tuesday, October 13th under the care of Niagara Hospice and our invaluable team of care.

Born April 28th, 1945 in Lockport NY to Walter and Mildred (Burrows) Harris, He grew up on Irving St. in Lockport, attended the Lockport City Schools and then became an Earth Science teacher for 32 years in the same Lockport City School District. He attended Fredonia State College for his undergraduate degree in teaching and then earned a grant to obtain his Masters of Science from Syracuse University.

Bob married his wife of 59 years, Deborah (Eckhardt) in August 1967. In 1978 he and Deborah, both LCSD teachers, purchased a farm house and acreage in the town of Hartland and spent their summers pursuing a hobby farm with their son and daughter. Sweet corn, among other veggies, was the specialty and business was conducted from a wagon in front of the house. A month of picking sweet corn every July would be followed by a family summer vacation in August. Both their children pursued education degrees but it would be their son, Nathan, who only wanted to farm from the start and took that path with his wife, Victoria, and grew the business into Harris Farms as we know it today, our family’s pride and joy. Megan knew from the age of three that she would follow in her parents’ footsteps and would become a teacher also.

Robert was active with the Hartland Volunteer Fire Company when he moved to the area, he served the town of Hartland on the Planning Board for 40yrs, was active in the Western New York chapter of Trout Unlimited and a lifetime member of the Hartland Conservationist Club. Bob retired from teaching in 2000 and found a passion for fly fishing, traveling west each year seeking trout in the streams and rivers of Colorado and Utah. Early on he loved wildlife and being outside, he also enjoyed woodworking, spending time with the grandkids and helping Nate and Vicki develop the farming operations and market through many building projects and expansions over the years. He helped build and remodel both the homes that his grandchildren grew up in. Robert and Deborah enjoyed their Irish Setters and Golden Retrievers, traveling, family time, caring for grandkids and winters in Florida. Health issues have certainly been a struggle for Bob in the last several years and we as a family have been honored to rally around him together.

In addition to his parents, Bob was predeceased by their infant son, Adam in 1974.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah (Eckhardt) Harris; children, Nathan (Victoria) Harris and Megan Harris; grandchildren Grace (Ziv) Basden, Jacob and Joel Harris, Levi and Jackson Hauser; brother, John (Carol) Harris; and several, in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, October 20 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Sherrie-Bream Funeral Home, 4521 Main St, Gasport. A memorial service will be held the following morning, Wednesday, October 21st at 10:00 AM at Quaker Road Community Church, 2800 Quaker Rd, Gasport. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Golisano Children's Hospital of Buffalo, https://www.ochbuffalo.org/foundation/donate/ or to The Gasport Lions Club in the care of Melissa Bedford, 5676 West Lake Rd., Burt, NY, 14028.

To share a special memory of Robert, please visit: www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.