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Condolences
Dear Marlene
Please accept our heartfelt condolences on Don's passing away. He sure was a person involved in so many human issues and we will miss his guidance.
As I read his work history, I had forgotten that he and I worked at Home Oil in Calgary in 1970's.
Last Stop, Fresh Start
Ding Dong!
Approaching the last stop
Please remember to take your personal belongings
Sounds like the City bus eh!
Uhmn! What a reminder!
In death stance; do we really have that chance?
Since to pack or unpack is the affair of life
And, since there is life after life
We still need to take certain things with us for sure
Humanity! Don William Colin Harris poems
So we can massage the world
Right from the moment you arrived, Don Harris
You took each instance like a fresh start
Choosing to belong to a musical family background
Was a fresh start to your very next life, out of womb
You landing from the third floor was a stop
Four day stop in life! To a fresh beginning
With head bandaged, you woke after four days
Putting your feet on the floor and
Walking out of the hospital ward
Was nothing but a fresh start
Your will to repeat first year in the university
Another fresh start, like the phoenix
You conquered that super huge Popliteal
Rejected thesis brought you to a fresh start
You owned your own 1953 Pontiac to a fresh start
Phil’s Pancake House on 16th Avenue was for you
Yes, that you may meet that enchanting Marlene
Traveling twenty Kilo metre, led to fifty eight years
Keenly to start four talented fresh lives and eventual grandkids
You choosing to have the knowledge of fossils
With which you are one now, is a fresh start
Adieu Father Don Collin William Harris!
Enjoy your fresh sojourn
Who is who in Alberta
And who is who in Canada
Will remember you for your land mark
As you left poems behind
For the global use of whom it may concern
That we may be right thinking virtuous people
Transformed for societal good
Saying “Thank you so much”
Your infectious smiles and hugs
Like the smell of fragrance
Will forever be fresh in our hearts
Like the gentle sea wave that you were
Sublime and strong, Spirit One
Keep reminding us of a fresh start
Lest we forget, the Origami cranes with you
Will still be light to our paths as well
And courage as we journey to part no more
At the Fresh start
Adieu!
Adieu! Don William Colin Harris
The spirit one
“Thank you so much”
Bukola Okedara
March 16, 2023
I may have known Don longer than Marlene. He was my lab teacher in a palaeontology course at the University of Alberta, Calgary. He knew a lot about fossils! Marlene married Don and I married Bruce and we often walked together, danced together and shared a meal. Our children grew up knowing each other but we were all too busy to often get together. Don was such an easy-going person - I can't remember a time when I saw him without his smile and a warm welcome. I will always remember that smile!
Our sincere condolences to you dear Marlene & family.
We have very fond memories of Don. One that I remember so vividly is when we first met Don some 20 years ago at the CFSC. Don was very generous with offering hugs, but.... they had to be done the proper way, which was "Heart to Heart"
Thank you Don for that lesson. You will always have a spot in our hearts.
Love
Ferdi & Vreny
Don was like a second father to me growing up just down the street in Cambrian. Thanks for so many great memories of summer vacation road trips with the family! Love Matt
I remember Don so fondly. He always had a smile on his face, and made everyone around him smile, too!
I still have the gift he gave me years ago when we did our family Christmas gift exchange. He really was a poet, as he wrote such a sweet poem on the lid of the gift box.
It was a pleasure to have known him, even if only for a short time.
Sending love and light to you and your family, Marlene.
David & Lilian Dahlman
Dear Marlene,
We are sending our condolences to you and your family at this difficult time. Thank you so very much, Marlene for the lovely messages you composed in the wee hours of the morning on February 22, 2023 to share with us. You wrote a beautiful obituary also which we enjoyed very much, puns included. Humor has always been a big part of our friendship. Even at times like this humor plays a role in our lives. I am so happy that we had the opportunity to have a wonderful visit on the phone just days before Don's passing. This will be a very busy time for you but I will be iln touch by phone when things simmer down for you.
Our friendship goes back to our early days at Varsity Acres Elementary School together. What happy memories we have of our times together at your house and ours where we played games together, cards together, had meals together and did excursions near Calgary with our dogs in tow.
We are very interested in being connected to the virtual service on March 19 at 2:00 if that is possible. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Lilian & Dave
I may have known Don longer than Marlene has. He was my lab teacher in a palaeontology course I was taking at the U of A in Calgary many years ago. He knew a lot about fossils! Marlene married Don and I married Bruce and we often walked together, danced together, shared a meal together. Our children grew up knowing each other but we were all too busy to often get together.
Marlene and I sometimes walked our dogs on Marlene's and Don's favourite hills. Don was such an easy-going person - I can't remember a time when I saw him without his smile and warm welcome. I will always remember that smile!
We are truly blessed to have these special,people in our lives to walk our journey with us. They all leave us with a gift. Love and blessings go with him.
Marlene,
I didn't know Don, except through you. Whether twirling you around the dance floor or challenging you at Scrabble, he brought joy to your life for more than 50 years. I hope you and your family have many great memories of happy times with Don to help you through these difficult days. My sympathy for your loss.
Jane
Wish I could list chronologically; but I will start with the most amazing action of Don who I call 'Father' and the spouse Marlene who I call 'Mother' - My eye surgery demanded that I have someone to support me for 3 days and they took turn to do that with proper planning ahead of time, shelving their own personal stuff, 'just for me!'
The surgery was an extended one, though unplanned and Don 'Father' stood by me from am to pm with encouraging words. Isn't that an unimaginable patience from a +80 year old? The next day 'Mother' Marlene, as planned arrived at my house and drove me to the hospital for scheduled follow up and a job interview with one eye covered like that of a pirate. Day 3, Father appeared in the morning with breakfast of muffin baked by Mother and Father still made lunch in my house and left the house ensuring that there was supper nicely set on the dining table. He was a good cook!
The one thing again that beats my imagination is the unity and harmony in their family. Publishing Canada Massages the world witnessed so much input from Mother and their sons. Donovan, their son appeared late at my house instantly, with all pleasure to fix Father's car, on just one call from Father that his vehicle broke down.
That's at the family level though; another time, I got a call from the Calgary First Spiritualist Church that they would be dropping off donations at my house because Don and Marlene told them of how I was facing a down time! The donations were not small items including Gift cards. What a blessing they are to life.
Father, you were light! As I grow each day, I endeavor to be like you.
Your contribution to this world that you tread sometime from May 12, 1936 till February 21, 2023 is something worthy of emulation by all. Your remaining poems will still witness the light of day and touch others.
I cherish the fact that you were so gorgeous, gentle and thorough!
Love you loads for your example in humanity and continue to shine as the light that you were!
I remember going to dances and seeing Don and Marlene flowing with their perfect in-synch steps on the dance floor.
So lovely to see the harmony in rhythm that they had. It certainly showed the love between the two of them.
Marlene was often on the Podium at CFSC with Don quietly sitting in the audience supporting her.
Bless you Don and safe journey to meet your family and friends who have been waiting for you in joyful anticipation in the afterlife.
Kindest regards,
Jen Beatson King.
My memories of Don are of a kind, thoughtful man who gave the most wonderful hugs. He enriched people’s lives and will be missed.
Dear Marlene and Family,
I'm so sad to read of Don's passing but glad he is no longer in pain. I knew he had been ill for some time. I hope I can join you at the service in March.
With warmest thoughts,
Betty
Dear Marlene and Family!
Michael and I were very saddened to hear
of Don’s passing.
We were so lucky to have Don,you and your family
as our wonderful neighbours through all these years.
We will miss our quiet chats with Don,his kind smile,
the friendly wave of his hand.
We’ll treasure his poems and will always remember his words:”Have fun with circles of friends!Remember!
Circles have no ends!”
May your memories and Don’s legacy bring you comfort
at this most difficult time.
You are in our thoughts and prayers.
With our deepest symphaties ,
Alla and Michael.
Dear Marlene, I admired how much you cared for Don.
May the strength of your family carry you forward with loving, wonderful memories of him. Wishing you peace and comfort,
Lynn
goodbye Don, see you on the other side. thank you Marlene for your wonderful letter about Don's passing it made me cry and it has made my day. so happy Don was able to choose his time, perhaps the morning horoscope helped him to take that step.
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