Former Plastics News sales executive Earl Harris Jr. died April 24 of complications from pancreatic cancer. He was 71.
Harris was born in Cleveland and was a resident of Mentor, Ohio. He served as Midwest sales manager from 1993 to 2012. In that role, he served more than 300 accounts and prospects. Prior to Plastics News, he worked in ad sales for Hitchcock Publishing and GIE Publishing.
Harris attended the University of Akron and Lakeland Community College and was a graduate of Willoughby South High School.
"[Harris] was a proud and loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who will be greatly missed by many," his obituary said.
"His quick wit and optimistic attitude served him well all through his courageous battle with cancer. He had many interests but especially loved music, reading, and traveling and was a trivia master. Most of all he cherished his children and grandchildren."
Harris is survived by Carla, his wife of 51 years, sons Todd, Ryan and Kevin, daughter Courtney and nine grandchildren, as well as his brother James and sister Dawn.
Visitation will be on Saturday, May 1, from 2-5 p.m. at Monreal Srnick Funeral Home, 35400 Curtis Blvd., Eastlake Ohio. A funeral service will be held at 5 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in his name to the Lustgarten Foundation, which specializes in research of pancreatic cancer, at Lustgarten.org.