John Edward Harris

John Edward Harris of Apache Junction, Arizona, past away peacefully on Friday, July 23, 2021 while in the loving hospice care of daughter Coral Palladino and family. Born May 10, 1937 in Olean, New York to the late Frank L. and Carol W. Harris, John was a 1955 graduate of Olean High School and attended St. Bonaventure College. On October 20, 1979, in Olean he married Glena Phillips, who past away in 2020. John enjoyed a long and productive career in the railroad industry as the Olean Yard Master of the Pennsylvania, Penn Central and later Conrail systems. A short time after graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and subsequently provided over 20 years of dedicated service to the New York Army National Guard, having retired as a Master Sergeant. His military service with the National Guard included duty to protect and provide assistance to people and communities having been involved with a number of civil disturbances and natural disaster emergencies in the 1960s & 70s. On one of Olean’s most tragic days in late December of 1974, then 1st Sgt. Harris, together with police, fire and National Guard volunteers, responded quickly and without concern for their own safety in an effort to shield innocent bystanders caught in the midst of Olean’s deadly shooting encounter. He positioned a tracked armored vehicle in the line of fire. At a time before the broad existence of armored police SWAT vehicles for community safety, those at the scene of the 1974 shooting cited that his actions resulted in protecting more from considerable harm. John never spoke at length about the valor he displayed on that day, instead feeling a great sense of loss for those needlessly injured and taken. An enthusiastic outdoorsman, motorcyclist and recreational traveler, John enjoyed hunting, fishing, antique guns collecting and reading about American military history. Most of all, he loved his family. In addition to his parents and wife, John was predeceased by a sister, Dianne Jenner of Sinclairville, New York. He is survived by a brother, Gerald V. Harris of Elma, New York, daughters Coral Palladino (Jeffrey) of Apache Junction, Arizona and Carrie Heddings (Matthew)) of Roanoak, Virginia, nephews Daniel of Olean, New York, Michael of East Brunswick, New Jersey and Scott of Portville, New York, a niece Carol Ann Jenner of Mesa, Arizona, grandchildren Regan and Riley Heddings, Jessica Manship, Tina Roberts and Shelley Coop, and great grandchildren Dylan, Daniel and Jesse Lee Manship, Madilyn Dyer, Aiden and Jenny Coop. Funeral services were conducted by the Legacy Funeral Home in Chandler, Arizona. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, Florida 32256.