Robert Eugene Gene Harries

Robert Eugene (Gene) Harries peacefully passed away two days after their 70th wedding anniversary with his devoted wife Betty Harries at his side. Gene was the youngest son of Hammond and Grace Harries born on October 29, 1925 in Bloomington, Nebraska. He is predeceased by his three siblings Ester Gage, Leroy Harries and Velda Bevel. Genes family moved to Eugene, Oregon where he graduated from Eugene High School in 1943 and met the love of his life Betty Jean Drew of Harrisburg, Oregon and married her March 7, 1944 while on leave from the US Navy. Betty welcomed their daughter Jeanette on July 6, 1945 and Gene met her six weeks later at the end of World War II. They welcomed their second daughter Donna on April 7, 1949. They raised their daughters in Harrisburg until Genes health required a move to Eugene where he worked for the Railroad until 1959 when he moved to the US Postal Service as a clerk until his retirement in 1986. Gene and Betty were active members of the Eugene First Christian Church, Bethel Christian Church, and Irving Christian Church, where he baptized his first grandson. After retirement they moved to their property on Plainview in Bend where they enjoyed many years and family gatherings before selling in 2008 and moving closer to Bend, and then Redmond. Gene enjoyed his roses, gardening, fishing, camping, bee keeping, hunting, singing in the church choirs, and playing his trumpet, but most of all his FAMILY. Gene is survived by his wife Betty Harries of Redmond, his two daughters Jeanette Peters of Springfield, Donna Koplau (Bob) of Sandy, seven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren. His home was always open for any of his family to live or visit. Gene was always patriotic and proud to have been a sailor. His last farewell was a final salute to a fellow service man on his entrance into Redmond Care Center five days before his passing. In lieu of flowers please fly a fag, open a door for a vet, thank a vet, or donate to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675 or online at www.woundedwarriorproject.org. A funeral service will be held Friday March 14, 2014 at 12:00 PM at Redmond Memorial Chapel with a private burial at Willamette National Cemetery on Monday March 17, 2014. Funeral Home: Redmond Memorial Chapel 717 SW 6th Street Redmond, OR US 97756

Robert Eugene Gene Harries

October 29, 1925 - March 9, 2014