Passing of a good friend...but keeping his memory alive page 3

Missouri CK · March 14, 2012, 10:47:00 PM

A good friend of mine passed away yesterday.

Mark Harris hunted with my brother, Whip, Beach Bowhunter, Bob Walker, Charlie Lamb, and many others at the third Texas Sweat hunt when Curtis Keller was going strong.
Mark is the guy in the middle with the blue shirt on.

He was a friend of my father-in-law and Charlie Lamb so I got to know him pretty well. Mark had his flaws like the rest of us, but once I got to know him I learned to really enjoy his company. He opened up his farm to myself, Charlie, Andrew Kinslow, and Tom Porter (Gatekeeper).

We had a hell of a lot of good times at his bunkhouse which was a small house he built down by the fishing pond. It's became my "corner bar" where I went to hang out with my hunting buddies.

I helped Harris build deer habitat and put up treestand on his farm. We did a lot of work to help increase the deer numbers. I hunted there several years and finally this fall, I shot a nice doe with my longbow. I wish he was in this picture. Mark was always cooking or doing chores around the buckhouse to help make things nice for the hunters. He said he had to get something ready for our lunch so he didn't go out to recover the deer with us. I wish he had now!

Mark passed away on Tuesday morning suddenly. I will miss him and his lovely farm where he so graciously let me hunt. Here's to you my friend! God's speed.

Mudd · March 14, 2012, 10:52:00 PM

I'm sorry for your loss.

Condolences to the family.

God bless,Mudd

BOHO · March 14, 2012, 10:53:00 PM

So sorry for your loss

Mike Vines · March 14, 2012, 10:56:00 PM

Sorry for the loss. He sounds like an awesome man.

bluej · March 14, 2012, 11:00:00 PM

The memories you had of Mark and the farm you hunted will always be with you, sorry for the loss of your friend.

AZWarts · March 14, 2012, 11:16:00 PM

SOrry for your loss. just remember he will be with you in spirit!

joe ashton · March 14, 2012, 11:39:00 PM

God bless!

Charlie Lamb · March 14, 2012, 11:52:00 PM

Too many good times with Mark to count. We've been hunting buds since back in the 70's. It's hard to imagine life without Mark.

Charlie Lamb · March 14, 2012, 11:57:00 PM

Always quick with a quip or joke, he was a joy to share camp with.
Though you wouldn't know it by talking to him, he was a great shot with longbow or recurve.
Like myself and others in our group he never owned a compound and just simply didn't feel a need for one.

cnorth · March 15, 2012, 12:04:00 AM

Sorry for your loss, prayers sent up. GOD BLESS..

K.S.TRAPPER · March 15, 2012, 12:18:00 AM

Sorry for the loss Chris, Tom and Charlie.

I sure enjoyed meeting him at his farm with you guys and he sure had a awesome place. He was a pleasure to visit with and here some of the great storys from years past.

Tracy

Guru · March 15, 2012, 06:40:00 AM

Sounds like one of the good guys I never had the chance to meet....sorry for your loss fellas.....

Gary Norris · March 15, 2012, 08:01:00 AM

Like Charlie, I have known Mark since 1970. I've hunted everything from rabbits and squirrels to Mulies,Whitetail and Elk with him. I really have so many stories and memories of Mark that it would take a book to tell all of them. Mark, by the way, was the guy that kept a journal of all of his hunts and it would be nice to get them to keep. One of the funniest hunts I was on with Mark happened to be with another great friend, Charlie Lamb. Remember the Tick Bucket , Lamb ? We met Charlie in Lebanon, MO when Charlie worked for the MO Conservation Dept to go Turkey hunting. This was in the early 70's when there were only 3 Turks in the state and Lamb was convinced we could kill one. It would be the first bow kill in the state. We didn't get anything so we laid down for a nap in the sun. We woke up later and headed for the truck. Harris was like a tick magnet AND HAD TICKS ALL OVER HIM. He stripped off and put his clothes in a plastic bucket with a lid and thus was born "The Tick Bucket" It wasn't a pretty site , but it was funny as hell. That was Harris. if it could happen to you, it would happen to Harris

In the past year , Mark has been more supportive to me personally that any of you know.
to say I will miss him is a huge understatement.

God's speed to you Mark, Keep the wind to your back and the sun in your face.

PaPaFrank · March 15, 2012, 08:14:00 AM

I am very sorry for the loss of your friend. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers....

Tater · March 15, 2012, 08:24:00 AM

Sorry for your loss... He lives on in your memories..

Jim Jackson · March 15, 2012, 08:39:00 AM

I hunted on Mark's place the past three years with Charlie, Gary, Chris, and Tom. Mark was always busy with the logistics of the guests and would sacrifice his own hunting getting something ready for us. He always had a funny story to tell, and a laugh larger than life. He always greeted me with a handshake and a smile and made me feel like an old friend even though I would usually only see him a couple times a year. Some of the best times were spent at the bunkhouse around the fire telling stories. I'll really miss that. Thanks Mark.

lpcjon2 · March 15, 2012, 08:53:00 AM

Sorry to hear about your loss. at least he sits at the big fire with the greats of archery who went before him.

Herdbull · March 15, 2012, 10:18:00 AM

God bless him and his family and friends. Mike

KentuckyTJ · March 15, 2012, 10:28:00 AM

Very sorry for the loss guys.

snakebit40 · March 15, 2012, 10:35:00 AM

Sorry for your loss. Prayers sent from KS