J. Mel Harris, a most beloved man, who was known as “Papa-Bear” to many, passed on at 5:20 AM MST at Poudre Valley Hospital, on hospice for only one day after dealing with aspiration pneumonia on top of a rare lung disease. He was 79, and only one month short of 55 years of marriage to his dear wife Nancy. Mel’s remains were cremated and scattered in the mountains he loved in Estes Park, CO. Several small memorials were held in both Fort Collins and Estes Park for his caregivers, friends, and family. He wanted to be remembered by this statement from the song: “I did it my way.” Survived by his wife, his two daughters Chris Harris and Denise Harris-Kester, and one grandchild, Reece, he is already, and will continue to be, severely missed. We celebrate this man and all of the love he engendered in everyone who knew him.
