John Harris

John Leslie Harris, 69, passed away January 26, 2013 at his home in Kansas City, MO.  He was born April 5, 1943 to Walter Leslie and Margaret Lucile Gander Harris.  He attended Plattsburg Schools in Clinton County, MO from the 2nd grade through high school.  In the fall of 1961 he attended the University of Missouri at Columbia, MO on a scholarship from the Clinton County Democratic Women's Club.  He was on the Membership Committee of the University of Missouri Young Democrats Club, was in the ROTC and selected best cadet in his platoon, best cadet in his battalion and Cadet First Class at the Military Ball.  He was on the Religion In Life Committee responsible for bringing speakers from the field of religion to the Campus and the Foreign Student Committee.  He was elected to serve as Lt. Governor of his dormitory, Bates House, for the next school year but was not able to return to school.  He attended night classes at Grandview College in Des Moines, IA; the University of Kansas; and Penn Valley Community College.  He accepted an offer from the Social Security Administration and began work July 24, 1963.  He worked for the Social Security Administration in Kansas City, MO; Des Moines, IA; Charlotte, NC; and Washington D.C.  His career progressed rapidly through the clerical, supervisory and managerial ranks and was fortunate in being able to attend supervisory and management conferences in many of our country's largest cities.  In November 1979 he was promoted to the National Headquarters in Washington D. C. as a Program Analyst and transferred back to Kansas City in 1981 as a Management Analyst retiring September 30, 1995 after 32 years of service.  After retirement, John did volunteer work in the Medical Library at North Kansas City Hospital.  He also worked as a volunteer at the Harry S. Truman Library in Independence, MO and for his church.  He and his wife traveled to England and Ireland, and then traveled on a family and friends cruise to Mexico.  After spending five years writing a book, he decided to officially retire to his other interests such as reading and gardening.  He also established a simple chapel for study and worship in his own home.  He was preceded in death by his father, mother, and two brothers.  He is survived by his wife, Cynthia Gae Goodman of 37 years; two sons, Andrew Leslie Harris and wife Nancy, of Windsor, MO,  Brent William Harris and wife Jolene of Lawson, MO; sister, Maggie Wedua and husband Jim of Riverside, MO; brother, William Harris of Kansas City, MO; grand-daughter, Jacquelynn Harris of Parkville, MO; niece, Michelle Hannawalt, husband Steve and sons, T.J. and Tyler of Collinsville, OK; step nephew and niece; one aunt and many cousins.Services will be held Friday, February 1, 2013 at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 – 2:00 with funeral service and internment immediately following at Mount Moriah Terrace Cemetery. Contributions may be made to Medical Aid For the Children of Latin America 4444 North Belleview #204 Kansas City, MO. USA 64116 MACLA is a Kansas City based organization. Email: info@macla.org Telephone: (816) 455-3062.

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