Norman Ray Harris, MD
Norman Ray Harris, MD, a Belleair resident since 1990 passed away on October 14, 2009.  He was born September 27,1930 in Meade, Kansas to Elbert Lyle Harris and Lois Hantla Harris.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Wiebe Harris; his sister Dorothy Harris Hoover; and his children Norman Ray Harris II M.D. of Roanoke, Virginia, Sara Harris Fisher of Belleair, Florida and John Peter Harris M.D. of Windsor, Colorado.  He is also survived by his 10 grandchildren; Kathleen Briege Harris, Norman Ray Harris III, Sean Patrick Harris, and Gillian Piper Harris, the children of Norman and Peggy Mallon Harris; John Samuel Fisher, Elizabeth Anne Fisher, and William Steele Fisher, the children of Sara and John Steele Fisher MD; Dylan Hunter Harris, Zachary Oliver Harris and Alexandria Grace Harris, the children of John and Melissa Ortega Harris.
Norman was an Eagle Scout and played basketball for Southwestern Methodist College prior to transferring to the University of Kansas.  He graduated from the University of Kansas, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma, and then served as a pharmacist in the US Army.  He attended the University of Kansas Medical School where he was a member of Phi Beta Pi and graduated as a member of the AOA honor medical society in 1959.  After a general surgery internship in Salt Lake City, where he was awarded Intern of the Year, he completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Luke's Medical Center, Kansas City, Missouri, where he was named chief resident.  He opened a private practice in Salina, Kansas in 1963, performing gynecological surgery and delivering over 10,000 babies over the next 26 years. He served on the advisory board of Blue Cross Blue Shield and was on the board of admissions at the University of Kansas School of Medicine.
After retiring to Belleair, Florida, he and Mary became members of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Carlouel Yacht Club and Belleair Country Club.  He enjoyed the time he spent as a volunteer physician at the Clearwater Free Clinic.  Norman will be remembered for his faith in God, his gentle care and his lifelong passion as an advocate for women’s’ health care.
Services were held at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension October 22, 2009 at 4:00 pm.   Memorials may be sent to the Clearwater Free Clinic or the Episcopal Church of the Ascension.  Arrangements are being handled by the Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Largo, FL  727-562-2080.