Charles Donald (Jr) Harris

On October 2nd, 2025, the world lost a dearly beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Charles Donald Harris Jr. was born September 8th, 1942 in Terrell, Texas. His parents were Chaplain Charles and Maxine Ray Harris. He is survived by his spouse of almost 60 years, Marsha Searcy Harris of High Rolls, NM, brother John Ewing Harris of Springfield, Illinois, son Jeffrey Donald Harris of Bastrop, Tx., daughter and son-in-law Shannon Harris Evans and Cory Evans. They were blessed with four grandchildren including Kinsey Blair of Leander, Tx., Charles Ean Evans of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ethan Evans and wife, Amy of Llano, Tx., and Hannah Evans Stevens and husband Lucas of Rockport, Tx. An added blessing are their seven great-grandchildren, Juno and Zelda Blair, Mila, Hudson, Sybil, and Audrey Evans, and Levi Stevens.

Don earned a Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics from Baylor University in 1964 and did post-graduate work at the University of Texas where he met his wife. They were married July 23rd, 1966 in McKinney, Texas with Chaplain Harris officiating. Don spent thirty -two years working at NASA JSC in Clear Lake, Texas. At the outset of his tenure at NASA, he had the privilege of working on the effort to develop a craft that could land on land rather than water, and served on the “Red Eye” shift for Apollo Ten (1969) in the recovery room of Mission Control. With the Earth Resources Aircraft Program, he was involved in the collection and analysis of Landsat data, both visual and IR photography. He worked with MIT scientists to quantify the adaptation of astronauts to weightless conditions involving the inner ear and the otolith. In 1989, he was selected to manage a study involving two aerospace companies to measure and quantify orbital debris which posed a concern to the orbiter and future space station. In 1993 he worked with DOD to develop a digital camera to photograph areas of interest on the Earth. During the STS-56 his efforts led to a nighttime image of Manhattan appearing in the New York Times. At the time of his retirement in 1998, he served as Branch Chief for the Flight Crew Support Division where he managed the fabrication of a docking target test apparatus for the International Space Station and stowage of experiments and supplies for orbiter missions. From a little boy who watched the stars atop his roof in Waco, Texas to a man whose destiny was truly in the stars, he has never waned in his love of the beauty of the skies.

Don and Marsha have lived out their dream life in the mountains of southern N.M. for twenty-eight years. Don enjoyed not only stargazing but hiking, biking, winter snow and fall colors and the myriad native animals that visited their property daily. He participated in three triathlons, several marathons, numerous century bike rides and Ride the Rockies. He and his wife loved to travel, taking three Alaskan cruises, a cruise up the St. Lawrence and several trips to New England and Utah where they pursued a common interest of genealogy. Don attended Mountain Bible Fellowship in High Rolls and cherished his time with their New Mexico friends. We will always feel the void left by his passing.

The Harris family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel to direct the funeral services.

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