Kenneth T. Harris was born on December 22, 1942, in Marietta, Oklahoma, and peacefully passed away November 4, 2007, surrounded by family and friends.

Ken graduated from Grossmont High School in La Mesa, Calif., and in December 1961 he joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from the San Diego Naval Training Station. Following in the Navy tradition, Ken served various Navy ships on three NATO cruises, and three terms in Vietnam. In 1976 Ken was assigned his last Navy vessel, the USS Kincaid. He was one of the original crew (Plank Owner) to place the ship in commission. He was a member of the first West Pac Cruise from 1978 to 1979.

In addition to serving on sea, Ken was a three-time Company Commander at Great Lakes Naval Station in Minnesota. His commands received several outstanding awards. Ken transferred from the Kincaid to the Seattle Recruiting District in December 1979, and retired from the Navy a Chief Signalman E7 in 1981. Following Navy retirement, Ken began a second career with U.S. Customs (now the Department of Homeland Security) and officially retired on Feb. 3, 2005.

Ken is survived by his loving wife, Clare V. Harris, whom he married in 1976. Ken always said he married his best friend and companion. When they married, Ken became the father to two wonderful children, James Thomas Asher (Breezy Point, Minn.) and Victoria Lynn Asher (Des Moines). He is preceded in death by his parents, Troy and Mary Francis Harris, and survived by his pride and joy, granddaughter Lauren Jo (born 5-17-2006) and just born grandson Austin James (11-4-2007).

Other survivors include sisters Melba Pierson of Oak Harbor and Shirley Kepner, Lee's Summit, Mo., numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, three brother and sister-in-laws, mother-in-law Francis Minor, Gresham, Ore., and many friends and extended family. Ken will be remembered for his love of cooking for family and friends, gardening and golf, and Mariners' baseball.

Memorial service to be held Sunday, December 2, 2007, at 2. pm. at the Des Moines United Methodist Church, 22225 Ninth Ave. S.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the charity of your choice, or to Highline Home Hospice Care, 12844 Military Rd. S., Tukwila, WA 98168.