Allan Harris
**Masks are mandatory for all who enter the funeral home. COVID screening will take place.**
Allan Arthur Harris passed away peacefully September 15, 2021 at Royal Oak Long Term Care Residence in Kingsville at the age of 92.
Al was born at home in Owen Sound on March 12, 1929. He was very proud of the fact that he never went into a hospital other than as a visitor until he was in his 80s.
His grandparents were farmers and labourers who came from England and Ireland in the 1860s to establish new lives in or near Owen Sound. His parents were Arthur Cecil Harris and Emily May Keeling.
Al graduated from OSCVI and went on to become the first in his family to obtain a university degree. He put himself through the University of Toronto, earning his B.Sc.Phm. in 1955.
While in high school he played clarinet and saxophone in a dance band where he caught the eye of Ila Brown. They married in 1951.
Following Al’s graduation from U of T, they lived briefly in Listowel and in London before moving to Kingsville where Al began working at Statham’s Pharmacy. He and another pharmacist, Harry Wilson, eventually bought the business and ran it successfully until it was bought by Big V Pharmacy who were in turn taken over by Shopper’s Drug Mart.
As well as being known as one of the pharmacists in the drug store on the corner, Al was actively involved in the community. Amongst other things, he was a member and one-time president of the Kingsville Kinsmen Club. He and Ila were active in the Couples Club at Epworth United Church. He was elected to the local school board for one term.
He and Ila raised their five children together in Kingsville before they split up in 1975.
Following his retirement in the 1980s, Al began to travel. He made it to Alaska, England, Germany, Spain and Turkey amongst other places often in the company of his dear friend Delys Cowan.
Al was the last surviving member of his generation. He was predeceased by his parents and by brothers Ed of Windsor and Harold (Babe) of Owen Sound and sister Lorraine Brown of Coldwater. Ila died in 2013.
Al leaves his five children: David (Maria) of Burlington, Jody Smith (Alan) of Kingsville, and Jim (Enza), Rob (Debbie) and Andrew, all of Toronto. He also leaves nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Thank you to Delys for all that she did for Al. She meant so much to him.
Thank you as well to Pam McDonald and all the other staff at Royal Oak for taking good care of Al over the past several years.
A memorial visitation for Al will be held at Kendrick Funeral Home, Kingsville, on Thursday, September 30, 2021, from 9 a.m. until the time of service starting at 11 a.m.
You may attend the funeral service in person, or you may register for live stream here. An email will be sent to you to join the live stream.
Masks are mandatory for all who enter the funeral home and COVID screening will take place. A family burial will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to the charity of your choice would be appreciated as an expression of sympathy.
SERVICE DETAILS
Visitation
When
Thursday, September 30, 2021 9:00am – 11:00am
Location
Kendrick Funeral Home – Kingsville
91 Division St. S
Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 1P5
Notes
Masks are mandatory for all who enter. COVID screening will take place.
Service
When
Thursday, September 30, 2021 11:00am
Location
Kendrick Funeral Home – Kingsville
91 Division St. S
Kingsville, Ontario N9Y 1P5
Notes
Masks are mandatory for all who attend the service. COVID screening will take place.
To my cousins David, Jody, Jim, Rob, Andrew & families
I would like to express my sympathy to you for the passing of your father. He was the one uncle I knew that always had a large smile on his face. He will be missed by many I’m sure. Hope you all can remember all the good times and laughs that you shared with him., He lived a long life and hope he kept smiling the whole time.
All of you take care of yourselves and share your memories of him together.
Hi Cathy
Thanks so much for your caring thoughts. I will make sure the family sees what you’ve said.
Love,
Jody
To Allan’s family and Delys. I’m so sorry for your loss. My heart is with you during this time. We became fast friends, he always shared childhood memories and his love for his family. I truly enjoyed our time together for two years and some as his personal caregiver while he lived @ Royal Oak Kingsville. We had such a great time together, he refereed to me as “ our Mary “ and I will always remember his kind words, good sense of humour, and his love for apple sauce. I miss our walks and talks as we ventured out in the neighbourhood, going for an ice cream down the road. I’ll always cherish our friendship. Thank you for the memories my friend, RIP Allan Harris , The friendly neighbourhood pharmacist. ” as he was well known to many in Kingsville. Your in the arms of an Angel my friend.
Natalia Dockrill-AKA -Mary.
Thank you Natalia. I remember you very well from your time with Dad. He really enjoyed seeing you. I’ll pass on what you’ve said here to my brothers and his grandchildren.
Jody
Hi Natalia,
Thank you so much for the time you spent with my Dad, and for your message in the Kingsville Times. My Dad did have a great sense of humour, it’s one of the things about him I will really miss. I saw that you mentioned that he loved apple sauce. I didn’t know that. At the service I was going to name some of the food he enjoyed, like steak, perch, and blueberry pie. After I read your note I also added in apple sauce!
Thank you again Natalia (our Mary)
Rob
To the family of Allan,
I’m so sorry for your loss. I knew Allan from Southgate and Royal Oak, as his nurse. He was always kind and made me laugh. My nana Myra always spoke highly of him and really anyone who knew him. He will be so missed!
Thank you Abbey. He was my dad. I appreciate your kind words and I’ll make sure the rest of the family knows what you’ve said here.
Jody Smith
Hi Abbey,
Thank you for your message. That was very kind of you. Thank you for being my Dad’s nurse and also for being his friend.
Rob Harris