Broken Inside

Posted By: Garrett

Steven Harris was a father of two, a husband to one, and a friend to all. Steve Harris was one of the greatest men I have ever known. He always modeled the American hard working man that we are all supposed to be.

Today his name will be placed in my book of Hall of Fame! I am grieved by the thoughts of my best friend’s father no longer here on this earth with his family. I miss him and his sense of humor and always coming up with something to laugh about. When we all would get together Steve would bring up some funny story of Matt and I as kids growing up. It always seemed to bring some of the hardest laughs I have ever heard.

Phillip and I have been best friends all our lives and really have valued our genuine friendship. Steve was an amazing father to Phillip and was always doing things together. I remember one time all the guys went camping at the Buffalo River. The boys slept in the tent and the men slept in the pop up camper. In the middle of the night it started pouring down raining and our tent started to flood. So the camping trip ended with all the men and boys sleeping in the little pop up camper. That was one experience!

I can remember that my dad (Kent Vanderpool) had his ham radio license and convinced Phillip to get his. Steve and Phillip studied away and then they got their ham radio licenses at the same time. Phillip’s call sign was KC0LKE and Steve’s was KC0LKD. I was so jealous about the three of them having their ham license and I didn’t. So Phillip would let me come over and we would study for my test together. It wasn’t too much longer after that and I got my license. My call sign was KC0NRQ! I was so excited about getting mine that we all four would talk on local repeaters.

We would travel together and go to Ham Fests and Packet meetings. We participated in this event for several years. We really had a lot of fun because not only was it something that Phillip and I did but our dad’s were involved to.

Steve was such an honest man that strived to do what was right and truly had the best interest of others around him. Steve truly felt like a second father to me as I was growing up. Growing up my family really didn’t have much to our name and Steve would treat me like I was his own. I would be invited to go out to lunch and dinner with them and he really made Matt and I feel a part of the family.

Steve was my dad’s best man and my dad was his best man in their weddings. Steve was my dad’s best friend and I can’t imagine how broke inside he feels today. Today he cried and I have not seen my dad cry about anything. I love my dad so very much and mourn the loss of my dad’s best friend and my best friend’s Dad.

If there is one thing that I think Steve would want his friends and family to know is that he is in a much better place now. I am sure his heart is broken that he was been called home and his family is still here to live life in this rough world. At the same time he is worshiping at the feet of Jesus Christ!

I miss you Steve and miss you being here in my life and the lives of your family. Today I am broken inside for the rest of the Harris Family. I know you all are going to really have a rough road ahead of you all learning how to handle this loss. God will be with you through it all and so will the Vanderpool Family!

We love you all more than anything and you truly are a part of our family. We miss Steve and know that he is in a better place! We are sorry this has happened to you! We will continue to pray for your healing in the days ahead!