Michael John Horoudas Harris

Mike was born on March 4, 1933, in West Helena, Arkansas to John Horoudas Harris and Vasso Stamatiou Harris.

He graduated from Central High School in West Helena, Arkansas. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1950 – 1954. Upon honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1954, he attended college at Evansville College in Evansville, Indiana and the University of Arkansas. He graduated in 1958 from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Education with a minor in Biology. In 1963, he furthered his education with a Master’s Degree in General Science from Michigan State University.

On June 23, 1968 he married Dorothy Arleen Nordlund at the First Congregational Church in Waukegan, Illinois. They were married 54 years at the time of her death in 2022. They lived in Ankara, Turkey during their first year of marriage and subsequently moved to Crete, Greece. Their daughter, Lisa Michelle Harris, was born in 1970. Lisa was born in Waukegan, Illinois at the same hospital where her mother was born. At the age of six weeks, Lisa and her mother traveled to Crete, Greece where the family lived until Lisa was three years of age. They then spent three years in Rota, Spain and three years in Brindisi, Italy. When Lisa was nine years old, they moved to Webster, Florida.

In 1958, Mike taught Biology at his alma mater, Central High School, in West Helena, Arkansas. In 1959, he taught General Science in Jacksonville, Florida. From 1960-1962 he taught 7th Grade Life Science at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Waukegan, Illinois. Mike was employed with the United States Federal Government as an educator for the U.S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools overseas on American Military Bases for 28 years as a high school Biology teacher. After his first year teaching in Adana, Turkey, he subsequently went on to teach in Bitburg, Germany; Okinawa, Japan; Ankara, Turkey; Crete, Greece; Rota, Spain; Brindisi, Italy; Athens, Greece; Azores, Portugal; and Fulda, Germany, retiring from DoDDS in 1991. Intermittently, during this time he also substitute taught in the Sumter County Schools in Sumter County, Florida.

During his time living overseas, Mike oversaw the building of his beloved home, Bella Vista, on the island of Skopelos, Greece. His parents and his oldest sister, Chrysanthy, were all born on Skopelos before immigrating to the United States. Mike first visited his ancestral home at 19 years old and this began a lifelong love for Greece and his Greek heritage. Mike spoke Greek fluently and was also able to read and write the Greek language. Mike taught himself this as an adult because growing up in the United States as the child of Greek immigrants, it was important to his parents that he be fully American. Bella Vista is in Loutraki, the port village of Glossa, Skopelos, Greece, on multi-generational property passed on to him by his mother. He visited this home many times while living overseas as a teacher for DoDDs. Upon retirement in 1992, he spent 3 months there every summer until his final trip in 2022. The only year Mike missed visiting his homeland was 2020, due to the pandemic. He passionately shared time at Bella Vista with many friends and family through the years. His most favorite time was being in this special place with his grandchildren, Lexi and Jace. He leaves this legacy to his daughter Lisa, who continues to share his love of Greece and travel.

After retirement, Mike was employed as a Health Educator for the Sumter County Florida Health Department, teaching smoking cessation classes, as well as car seat safety. He was a Guardian Ad Litem in Sumter County, Florida, and was an advocate for many children in the foster care system during his tenure. He was a Master Gardener through the University of Florida and was very involved in Sumter County Master Gardeners. He volunteered with Cornerstone Hospice at the Lane Purcell Hospice House as a cook, and later as a hospice volunteer, sitting in homes so loved ones could have time to run errands. He was very involved in NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees), serving as President before his illness in 2023. He was employed as a Horticulture teacher at the Coleman Federal Correctional Facility in Sumterville, Florida. Mike served on the City Council for Webster, Florida and served as Mayor of Webster for two terms. He received an award from the Florida League of Cities for 25 years of service. He started the Pepper Festival in Webster, Florida, which he oversaw for seven years. He was also very proud of having brought the recognition of being the first “Bee City USA” in Florida to Webster.

Mike is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and J. Knapp, III of Thomasville, Georgia; grandchildren Alexis Katherine (Lexi) Knapp of Thomasville, Georgia and Joseph Forrest (Jace) Knapp, IV of Fort Collins, Colorado; sister Helen Harris Shrode of Lakeland, Florida, sister-in-law Barbara Nordlund of Scottsdale, Arizona; as well as many nieces and nephews – each of whom he loved dearly. Mike was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Nordlund Harris, his mother Vasso Stamatiou, his father John Horoudas Harris, his brother Sam (Savvas) Harris and sister-in-law Patricia Harris, his sisters Chrys (Chrysanthy) Harris Crews and brother-in-law Thelbert L. Crews, Katherine (Keresia) Harris, Margaret (Andromache) Harris Colville and brother-in-law Lohrman Colville, Dena (Constantina) Harris Goble and brother-in-law Bennie Goble, brother-in-law Russell Shrode, and brother-in-law Donald Nordlund.

The family would like to thank Dr. Dale Wing and his nurse Krystal, Dr. Daryl Crenshaw, Fresenius Kidney Care, as well as Southern Pines, Abide Homecare, and Archbold Hospice for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made in Mike’s memory to Cornerstone Hospice (2445 Lane Park Road Tavares, FL 32778) or Archbold Hospice (400 Albany Road Thomasville, Georgia 31792), or the charity of your choice.

A service will be held at a later date at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida.