Cole Camp Mourns Death of Mayor Harris

By Beth O’Malley, The Sedalia Democrat, Sedalia, Mo.

May 27–Friends of Cole Camp Mayor Raymond Eldridge “R.E.” Harris say the small city has lost a visionary.

Mr. Harris, 75, who suffered from Merkel cell carcinoma, a form of cancer, died Thursday.

He was re-elected to his third term as mayor in April; he was unopposed.

Paul Kelly, mayor pro tem, said he knew Mr. Harris for several years.

“R.E. was a man of vision. He really had a deep love of Cole Camp,” Mr. Kelly said.

Mr. Kelly said Mr. Harris had favorable reports on his health in February and March, so he was optimistic in running for a third term.

Mr. Harris worked hard “in trying to promote this little-bitty 1,000-person town here,” Mr. Kelly said.

Neil Heimsoth, another friend, said, “(Mr. Harris) was very energetic and he was a visionary — he just did great things for the town.”

Every time Mr. Harris picked up his friend of 50 years, James Monahan, for their weekly golf game, he would say, “Isn’t it a great day?” Mr. Monahan recalled Friday.

The two met in Cole Camp. Both moved away, then returned to retire in the town.

“He was very proud of” Cole Camp, Mr. Monahan said.

Mr. Harris hired Storm Walker as Cole Camp’s police chief about three years ago.

Mr. Walker said Mr. Harris was “a great mayor … real forward-looking with a lot of vision and a lot of energy.”

“He had us involved in a lot of projects,” Mr. Walker said. Those projects included installation of a new water tower and sewer system, renovations to sidewalks in the downtown and other efforts to spruce up the community.

“You could just go on and on,” Mr. Walker said.

Mr. Harris was born in Grey Summit, and grew up in Benton County, graduating from Cole Camp High School. He moved back to Cole Camp in 2000, after retiring from his counseling career.

He was married to Judy Harris.

“We really loved the guy,” Mr. Monahan said.

A memorial service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Cole Camp.

omalley@sedaliademocrat.com

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