Jared Edward Harris OBITUARY

Jared Edward Harris OBITUARY

Jared Edward Harris, age 48, of Bellingham, WA, passed away after a courageous 2 1/2 year battle with ALK+ lung cancer on Saturday, May 24th at the Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, WA. Now he is at peace and enjoying the company of family who were there to greet and embrace him.

Jared was born in Livingston, New Jersey, in 1977 to Gardner Lawrence Harris and Susan Bennett Harris. He attended Fairmont Elementary School in West Orange, New Jersey, until his family moved to Garden Grove, California, in August 1986. In California, Jared attended Parkview Elementary, Ralston Intermediate, and Garden Grove High School, where he was on the track and cross-country teams, graduating in 1995. After high school, Jared attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He was on the school’s biking team, the Cal Poly Wheelmen, where he formed many lifelong friendships. San Luis Obispo is also where he began his training to become a Gyrotonic Instructor.

In 2005, Jared moved to Bellingham, WA, where he purchased a home, worked in various bike shops, and continued training and teaching the Gyrotonic method. In addition, Jared volunteered to help run Sterling Bike Works, an after-school program where underprivileged youth got help refurbishing a used bike and later got to keep the bike as their own. Even after the program ended, Jared continued to repair, build, and give bikes away to anyone who needed one.

Jared was quiet and unassuming and loved to help others. He was an attentive and caring son, a wonderful brother, uncle, and loyal friend. Jared loved the outdoors and remained very active hiking, biking, and camping even while fighting cancer. Jared is survived by his parents, Susan Bennett Harris and Gardner Lawrence Harris, his siblings Marcus Harris and Kristin (Theodore) Garbeff, and his nephew Julian, as well as his faithful lap cat, Gilbert.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to all of Jared’s loving friends who supported him and to the caring and compassionate healthcare workers at Whatcom Hospice House in Bellingham, WA. His family and friends were able to be with him around the clock, even wheeling Jared into the sunshine to enjoy its rays.

A celebration of Jared’s life is planned for Saturday, July 19th at 2 pm and will be held at the Roeder Home, 2600 Sunset Drive, Bellingham, WA.

Memorial donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders, one of Jared’s favorite charities.