Elvon Harris – May 19, 1937 – December 26, 2017

L Elvon Harris, died peacefully in Santa Rosa on December 26, 2017.  He was born in the Redwoods, son of the Reverend August English Harris and Mary Frances Doty.  He is survived by his wife, Helen Megan, his daughters, Cathryn (Matt Marchesi) and Susan, his sister Esther Ruth (Herb Arden), his niece Kristina (Jerry Wen) and his cousins Mark, and Craig Doty(Karen).  He is predeceased by his twin brother, Eddie.

Growing up, he lived all over California, from the Redwoods, Southern California, the Central Valley, and even a Navajo Indian reservation.  Elvon graduated from Occidental College in 1958, an SAE.  He was recruited on campus by The Manufacturers’ Life Insurance Company of Canada, and started his career working for them in Hawaii.  He did well, and exhibited strong management skills very early on.

Soon the Company moved him to its head office in Toronto.  His jobs included managing the Company’s Data Processing Operations, its US Operations, and its International Operations.  In this latter job, he appointed himself to head up Manulife’s Asia-Pacific Operations, which counted six countries when he retired in 1994.

While in Hong Kong, he met and married Helen Megan, from Montreal.  They retired to the Napa Valley, to enjoy golf at Silverado, travel, and the valley’s fine food and wine.  Soon Elvon and Helen were working for the Opera House, the Symphony and the Napa Valley Wine Auction.  They continued to travel, spending a lot of time on board ships.  They sailed around the world four times, around Australia and New Zealand, South America, and Asia, and took countless shorter trips.  Meanwhile, his daughters grew and prospered, with Cathryn a Federal Constitutional attorney on Long Island, and Susan selling commercial real estate, and living in Marin County.

Elvon had a good life, and no regrets.  Everyone loved him as a great manager, and a better friend.  He will be sorely missed, by his wife, Helen Megan, his daughters Cathryn Harris Marchesi (Matthew), and Susan Harris, his sister Esther Arden (Herb), his niece Kristina Arden Wen (Jerry), and cousins Karen and Craig Doty.

His family would like to thank Fountaingrove Lodge. The Terraces and Memorial Hospice, for the loving care they provided Elvon towards the end.  There will be a celebration of life for Elvon on January 20, at 4:00 pm, at Fountaingrove Lodge in Santa Rosa.  RSVP to HelenMegan@aol.com, as The Lodge needs a count.  Donations may be made to CityTeam Ministries in Oakland, which was close to his heart, or the charity of your choice.