Donald Harris

Donald R. Harris
Easley, SC

Harris, Donald R. 67 May 15, 1947 Dec. 01, 2014 Rev. Donald R. Harris, 67, passed away unexpectedly Monday, Dec. 1, 2014. Born and raised in Easley, S.C., the son of Marion and Gertrude Harris, he graduated from the University of South Carolina in accounting. After earning his C.P.A., he worked for a Big Eight accounting firm prior to moving to California, where he was CFO for Chart House restaurants.

After marrying and returning to South Carolina, to form the Harris & Harris, CPA firm, he felt a call to ministry and entered Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Upon graduation, he accepted a call to start a new church in the Happy Valley area. With the support of two nearby Nazarene churches, he founded the Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene, where he served as pastor for 22 years before retiring in January of this year.

He is survived by his wife, Gail; son, Scott; three siblings, Sylvia Massingill, Gary Harris & Martha McKie; large extended family; and loving church family. He was predeceased by a sister, Joyce Hall.

His ministry and life was driven by his desire that everyone he could touch would experience the love and grace of Jesus Christ that he repeatedly experienced himself. After being diagnosed with a serious illness in 2013, in a letter to his family describing his prognosis, he expressed his profound thanksgiving for the wonderful blessings God had bestowed upon him throughout his life and his complete trust and faith in God for his future

A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at Central Church of the Nazarene, 9715 S.E. Powell Blvd., in Portland.

Contributions may be made to Sunnyside Church of the Nazarene, 10401 SE 92nd Avenue, Happy Valley, OR 97086 in lieu of flowers.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown.