Harry Lewis North

Harry Lewis North was born on November 20, 1934, and grew up in the small farming town of Larned, Kansas, with his sister June, mother Edna and father Sam North. The family had a wheat farm nearby, where Harry loved to ride his pony. They moved into town when Harry and his sister started school. Harry loved sports and was a star athlete on the Larned High School football and basketball teams. He attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, becoming the first member of his family to attend college. He met the love of his life, Marilyn Mosier, at Fort Hays and they were married on August 8, 1955.

Harry and Marilyn both went into education, he as a high school industrial arts teacher and coach and Marilyn as a first-grade teacher. They lived and taught in Wichita, Kansas where their eldest daughter Pam was born in 1958. Harry went back to school and completed his Master’s Degree and was offered a teaching job in Long Beach, CA. The family packed up and headed to California in 1961, eventually buying a house and settling in Long Beach. Daughter Amy arrived in 1963, followed by son Chris in 1965.

Harry taught in Long Beach Unified School District for close to 40 years, first at Franklin Junior High, next at Jordan HS and then at Lakewood HS, where he also coached JV soccer once his own kids were all out of high school. He also taught adult education at Long Beach City College and worked summers at Disneyland (where he went from driving the Casey Junior train up to being foreman of Fantasyland). Harry was a dedicated teacher, and the lessons he imparted on his students went beyond the classroom and soccer field to a broader life context. Whenever former students encountered him, they always expressed gratitude and appreciation.

Harry had lots of friends, and although on the quiet side, he was known for his dry sense of humor, a contagious laugh, and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He and Marilyn had a busy social life between family, friends, their church community, the arts, bridge groups, and the various camping groups to which they belonged over the years. They loved to travel, especially exploring all 48 of the lower states in their motorhome, with dogs in tow.

Harry was a wonderful husband, dad, uncle, grandpa, and great grandpa. He never missed a game, musical event, birthday, graduation, family barbecue, or other life event. He was also a talented craftsman, and made many beautiful items out of wood. He enjoyed life to the fullest until his mind and body were devastated by Alzheimer's. He will be missed, but his family is celebrating a life well lived and the countless great memories he helped create. Harry is survived by:

• Wife Marilyn
• Daughter Pam and son-in-law Tim Shaw; grandson Anthony and Dara Shaw, great-granddaughter Casey Shaw; grandson John and Kathleen Shaw, great-granddaughter Keira, great-grandson Connor; and grandson Will Shaw
• Daughter Amy North; and grandchildren Maggie Ryan, Sam Ryan, and Josephine Ryan
• Son Chris North; and grandchildren Tarin North, Jack North, and Max North
• Niece Beverly Shackelford and family
• Niece Deby Elliottand her family
• Nephew Mike Peters and his family
• Niece Becky Young and her family
• And various cousins on both sides of his family

Donations can be made in Harry’s honor to Little Sisters of the Poor, where he and Marilyn volunteered for years, at 2100 S. Western Avenue, San Pedro, CA 90732. http://www.littlesistersofthepoorsanpedro.org/donations/