Fred Earl Harris
MADISONVILLE, Ky. — Fred Earl Harris, 82, of Madisonville, died at 9:55 p.m. Saturday, October
25, 2008, at Brighton Cornerstone Healthcare in Madisonville.

He was born November 5, 1925, in Baxter, Ky., to the late Clarence Harris and Mae Cooper Harris. He was employed at Peabody Coal Company, Gibraltar Mines in Central City, Ky., from 1956 where he retired in 1984 as mine foreman. He was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Madisonville. He joined the United States Marine Corps on October 8, 1941 and was honorably discharged on October 22, 1945 where he earned the rank of Sergeant. He was qualified as a rifle marksman, pistol expert, Mortar NCO and served as coach of the B school rifle range at Parris Island, S.C. He participated in action during WWII with
the 1st Marine Division in the South Pacific including Guadalcanal, New Britain and Peleliu Island. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, American
Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American
Campaign Medal, Victory Medal WWII, Honorable Service Lapel Pin,
Presidential Unit Citation awarded the First Marine Division, Reinforced, for service on Guadalcanal and on Peleliu together with ribbon bar and
one silver star (indicative of five bronze stars). He was mentioned in three published books referencing his service to his country. He was appointed
as a Kentucky Colonel, enjoyed reading, writing letters to area newspapers, and traveling.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by one brother,
Cecil W. Harris and an infant son, Mitchell C. Harris.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Nolan Harris of Madisonville; a brother, C. Webster Harris of Beaver Dam, Ky.; seven children,
Michael C. Harris of Mortons Gap, Ky., Mark S. Harris (Shirley) of Slaughters, Ky., Martha J. Heltsley of St. Louis, Mo., Antonia Carter(Wayne), Elizabeth K. James (Bill), Marsha J. Morse and Jonathan D. Harris all of Madisonville; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephew, great nieces and great nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2008,
in the Chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Father Gerald Calhoun officiating. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville. Military grave side rites will be conducted by American Legion Post 6, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5480 of Madisonville, American Legion
Post 2 Auxiliary of Earlington, and the U.S. Marine Corps.

Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. until service time Tuesday at Harris Funeral Home.