Obituary for
Alan Harris
The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed.
Two days before Alan Harris said goodbye to this world, he jokingly told his wife, Belinda, that “I am going to die long before you will.” Belinda joked back that, no, she would go first. Never one to be proven wrong, Alan stubbornly took his final breaths on January 21, 2022 after a day of work, playing with his grandkids, shoveling his daughter’s driveway, and watching an Oilers game with Belinda. Those who know Alan would find that a fitting final day for a man who loved doing all those activities, but especially spending time with his family…in front of the television.
Alan was born to Luba Skinner and Ken Harris on June 7, 1960 in Edmonton, Alberta. He spent his formative years in Edmonton, attending McArthur and Kildare elementary schools, Londonderry Jr. High, and M.E. LaZerte high school, playing pranks on his younger sister, Sandra, camping with his cousin, John, and getting into “general mischief” with his friends, including performing tire burnouts at several nondescript intersections throughout the city. After Luba remarried James Skinner, Alan also developed a love for do-it-yourself construction and plumbing, much to the joy to all who have benefitted from his ability to install insulation, put up drywall, build a bathroom from scratch, and remodel a basement or bedroom.
After high school, Alan attended the University of Alberta, where he received a Bachelor of Commerce degree, which opened the door to an early career as a chartered accountant at Mowbrey and Associates. Ever wanting to develop, grow, and be of service to his community, Alan built an even longer career as a public servant for several regional districts and municipalities in British Columbia and Alberta.
Along the way, he also picked up a few extra degrees, including a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.
Everyone who worked with Alan can attest to his kindness, hard-working nature, eagerness to lend a helping hand, and determination to get things right…no matter how long it took. Alan also enjoyed creating fun and lively work environments, especially on Halloween, when he would toil away to come up with new costumes—his proudest being the Hellboy outfit of 2008, complete with red body paint, homemade horns, and an accurately shaved head.
Beyond his career in municipal government, Alan’s passion for community service shone through in the volunteer work he did as a youth hockey and soccer coach. He also served proudly as President of both the Salmon Arm Youth Soccer and Minor Hockey associations. As a well-respected member of the Salmon Arm, B.C., sports community, it was not uncommon to find Alan—and to hear his booming voice—at the hockey rink or soccer pitch. Despite his intimidating figure and loud nature, Alan was an excellent coach and mentor, and kids stood in line to fight for the chance to play under the tutelage of “Big Al.”
Alan’s life infinitely changed for the better when, in his teens, his friend and future brother-in-law, Garry introduced him to Belinda. From the beginning, Alan tried his best to sweep Belinda off her feet, doing whatever he could to make his “mouse” feel like a princess—dining out at the Keg, shopping for dresses, bowling, playing tennis and softball, taking long walks, going on movie dates, travelling, and much, much more. Belinda will never forget their first date together. Alan took her to the beach at Sylvan Lake, but unfortunately left his wallet in the car. When they got back to the car, it had been broken into and his wallet had been stolen. Belinda expected Alan to react in anger. Instead, he was extremely calm, saying: “it’s okay, things can be replaced. I’m just glad to be with you.” It was Alan’s heart of gold that won Belinda over, and the two married in 1982.
Together, Alan and Belinda built a beautiful family with their children Dustin, Cody, and Erin. Alan was a loving, but no nonsense father, who worked to instill in his children his sense of hard work, a joy for sports, music, and collecting nick-knacks, and the importance of service to family and community.
Whether it was through play wrestling with the kids in the living room, getting them up at the crack of dawn to go for a run, bike ride, swim or to hunt for rocks for his garden, coaching their hockey and soccer teams, helping them a with their school work, or driving them to Grandma Luba’s house to visit, eat pizza, mow the lawn, rebuilding a deck, or put up a fence, Alan was a great father.
Throughout their youths, and into their adulthoods, Alan remained a constant source of inspiration and advice for his kids, and took great pride as they charted their careers and grew the Harris clan.
As the Harris clan grew, Alan also embraced the role of grandpa with arms wide open. Dubbing his first grandson, Abelchuck, Alan developed a strong bond with his little side kick. From sleepovers to sledding adventures, sneaking candy to gardening, drumming to kicking a soccer ball, and everything in between.
Abel was most appalled when he realized he would need to share his “Poopa” with his twin siblings. Alan, on the other hand, was very smitten by the new additions to the clan, and was especially elated with the arrival of a little granddaughter. In Alan’s short time with the twins he developed an equally strong bond with his little Stevie girl and Coleson (aka “Mr. Potato Head”).
Alan, Al, Big Al, Dad, Poopa—kind, loving, hard-working, determined, strong, heart of gold. Truly, no words can convey the amount of love and admiration we have for Alan. We find comfort and peace knowing that he made a positive lasting impact on the lives of so many people who will no doubt carry on his legacy in all that they do.
A celebration of life to remember Alan will be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Beaumont Community Centre, 5204 50 Ave, Beaumont, AB.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in the memory of Alan to the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation (www.royalalex.org/ways-to-give) or the University of Alberta Hospital Foundation (givetouhf.ca/).
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Alan
Harris 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta
I am sorry for your loss. Alan was a great person and will live on in our memories. My heartfelt condolences.