Gilbert “Gib” M. Harris

Gilbert (Gib) Marvin Harris, 87 of Lawrence KS passed from this earth February 11, 2023.

He was born in Marquette KS, September 12, 1935, the third child of Dale and Iola (Hall) Harris.  He married the love of his life, Gerda (Anderson) on January 25, 1957.  Together they had three children, Tracey (Phil) Stout of Fort Collins CO, Trudy Harris of Overland Park KS and Troy (Sarah) Harris of LaSalle Ontario.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, his three children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Dwight and Galen, sisters Phyllis Johnson and Joyce Buffington, and his grandson Jake Best.

Gib served in the US Army for two years during the Korean conflict. He was a loyal employee of Southwestern Bell/AT&T for 34 years, beginning as a lineman and spending the last 25 years in management. Retiring at 55, one of his goals was to be retired for the same length of time as his career. He came within two years of achieving that goal.

He was the epitome of a family man, spending as much time with his immediate and extended family as possible.  He was a “shade tree mechanic”, loved to work on cars, tend his vegetable garden and spend summer weekends at the lake with the kids and grandkids.

He was a long time member of the American Legion, VFW, Telephone Pioneers, and First Methodist Church of Lawrence.

When asked if there was anything he wanted his family and friends to know, his answer was “God has blessed me in so many ways I cannot begin to tell them all.  He provided me with Life, Love, a wonderful wife, beautiful children and fantastic grandchildren and I want you all to know I still love you all very much as I did when I was still with you in person and I am so proud of all of you.  I have lived the ‘American Dream’.  I thank God every day of my life for all the blessings He  has put in my life, but most of all for his son Jesus Christ who he sent to die for a sinner like me so that I may have life everlasting”

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 18, 2023 at Marquette Methodist Church in Marquette, KS. The family will greet friends an hour prior to the service at the church. Military graveside services will follow the service at the Excelsior Cemetery in Marquette, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Marquette American Legion or St. Jude Children’s Hospital and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary 120 W. 13th St. Lawrence, KS 66044.