Ernest Willis Harris

Ernest Willis Harris was born August 22, 1937, in Quincy, California, to David and Charlotte (Ingrahm) Harris. He died August 5, 2024, at his home in Cozad. As a young child, he was raised in Washington State with his younger sister Carole Jean.  Due to health problems, his family moved back to Nebraska, and he spent several years ranching, haying and working with his dad across the western end of the state.

Following high school graduation, he met Carole Cone and six weeks later they were married. They were blessed with 58 years of marriage filled with loving one another in sickness and in health, good times and bad, until death parted them in 2013. They were blessed with three children: Ernest Willis, Susan Jean, and Thomas Lee.

Willis spent his career doing many different jobs including buying and rebuilding old houses in Ansley, owning and running a motel in North Platte, and making and selling concrete lawn ornaments. In 1994, Willis and Carole retired to Cozad, and became active members of their community. He spent his life being generous with his time, talents and monetary gifts. In his later years he spent much of his time serving with the maintenance crew at Maranatha Bible Camp and remodeling the Thrift Shop in Cozad. Most recently he could be found at the Thrift Shop, sitting in the back room sorting clothes.

Willis is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, a half-brother and a half-sister, his wife Carole, and daughter-in-law Judith Harris.

He is survived by his children Ernie (Ronda) Harris, Sue (John) Kulhanek, and Tom Harris; grandchildren Megan (Justin) Kulhanek Bebb, Ryan (Chelsey) Kulhanek, David Harris, Katherine (Michael) Harris Cruz, Traci (Brandon) Harris Weber, Matthew (Sarah) Kulhanek, and Timothy (Elyssa) Harris; and 17 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Cozad Thrift Shop or Maranatha Bible Camp. Funeral services will be held Monday, August 12,2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Cozad United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Cozad Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.