Dale Finous Harris

Born to Faith (Beck) and “Barney” Harris in Willits, CA where he spent his early years. Mother kept her thumb on him and younger brother. 

He liked hunting wildflowers and observing their intricate designs. Moving to Leggett he discovered tasty strawberries under the trees. He attended Leggett grade school- At about 10 years old, a classmate (whose father was a minister) invited him to church. Jesus filled his longing heart with love and stability… He was baptized in the Eel River. In summers friends took the boys camping and fishing… 

His father lost his parents at 14 (probably from the 1918 flu) and he wanted to make sure his boys were ready to meet life at a young age, if something happened to him. He said learn from others mistakes, you don’t have to make them yourself. 

He learned trumpet, his brother trombone, and finished grade school at Leggett. The family moved to Holmes to be near a High School for the boys. They had 18 acres and a milkcow with plenty of fresh milk and butter for growing boys. Asthma developed severely and he could not play basic sports. He did enjoy band and was in the marching band. They took second place in an area competition in Santa Rosa, CA. Mr. Swackhammer was a wonderful band teacher…

After graduation he applied for work at Pacific Lumber Company. He became Assistant Gardner at the Larabe Family Retreat for the summer, with a promise of mill work in the fall. He learned landscaping and even got grass to grow under the Redwood trees, also cleaned the pool, only falling in once. 

In the fall he applied for Mill work and hired on filing a variety of positions through the years. He drove monorail for 20years. He had to know lumber grades and where they were placed in the millyard. He had to keep the green chain full slots of lumber taken out so the men could keep pulling lumber off the green chain… Often sidelinging it or a time when very busy, then go back and take it to the right placement in the millyard. After 20 years of driving monorail he asked for a mechanics job on equipment and cranes, when a man was retiring. He enjoyed it very much. He was called to different areas to troubleshoot when problems arose. He liked to figure out the problems and find solutions. He was at Palco 45 years, being laid off when new owners were scaling down. 

One nite he was 30 feet up a beam working and the lights went out! With much prayer he scooted 15 feet off the rail to cross rail and down to safety… Another time he saved a workmate who accidentally hit a Hot Wire!... On breaks Dale would sit on the bench in the sunshine with Joe Fritz and hear stories of God’s faithfulness as they fled the war and came to America, sponsored by Dr. Atteberry…

His ‘stepmom’ Hazel loved making quilts and banana bread. Dale helped and was a delivery man to hospital, post office, police workers around the holidays. 

In 2000 Hazel passed. He introduced himself to his widowed neighbor and became acquainted… and married in 2003.

He enjoyed retirement, camping, backpacking, raveling, gardening. In 2013 he developed cancer, later discovered his symptoms matched those of Roundup Garden Spray. Its proven Breast-Red ring to lump, to bone, to lungs… is what took him out! (Another story).

He lived the Love and Joy of Jesus in his heart. 

Dale's memorial will be in April or May 2026.

Memorial Donations may be made to Fortuna Community Services, Amazingfacts.com, or a favorite charity.

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