Thomas M. Harris 1923 – 2018

Thomas Murray Harris Sr., 95, of Lincoln, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018, at his home.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Britta Borgeson Harris, whom he married on April 15, 1950. He is also survived by his children, Jean (Doug) Brown, LaGrange; Dr. John (Tamara) Harris, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Julie Larson, Lincoln; Thomas (Regina) Harris Jr., Lincoln; and 12 grandchildren, Renee Brown, Andrew Brown, Janet Brown, Phillip Brown, Savannah Harris, John Harris Jr., Genevieve (Nathan) Neal, Britta (Kyle) Venstrom, Christina Larson, Thomas Harris III, Katherine Harris and Dean Harris.

He was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Janet Harris, in 1974, and his brother, Homer B. “Bud” Harris Jr., in 2017.

Tom was born May 14, 1923, in Lincoln, the son of Homer Blinn and Renee Murray Harris. He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1941. After completing two years at Northwestern University, he enlisted in the United States Naval Air Corps in 1943, and was in uniform for two and a half years during World War II as a carrier-based fighter pilot. He was honorably discharged from active service in November 1945, having attained the rank of ensign, and he remained in the Naval Reserve until 1957.

Following the war, Tom returned to Northwestern University where he studied law and received his degree in 1948. After passing the bar examination, he joined his father in the family law firm, Harris & Harris, in Lincoln in 1949. His younger brother, Bud, joined the law firm in 1950. Tom practiced law for 62 years, primarily as a probate lawyer, and retired in 2012 at age 89.

Tom was a former Republican state central committeeman and chairman of the Logan County Regional Planning Commission. He served on many civic and community boards in Lincoln and Logan County. Tom was a member of the Lincoln United Methodist Church, Illinois State Bar Association and Logan County Bar Association. He was honored to participate in a Land of Lincoln Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2013.