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On October 25, 2018, United States Army Staff Sergeant Shawn Allen Harris sadly passed away due to an undiagnosed service-related illness.
Harris was born in Orlando, Florida and raised in both Sanford, Florida and Oviedo, Florida. Throughout his childhood, he adored fishing and spent any time he could doing so. He also enjoyed playing jokes on his sisters. Having been adopted as a toddler by his parents, Theresa and Clyde Harris, he was the first of many other children they would adopt and raise. Harris also loved mechanics and classic cars, horseback riding, hunting, the Army, and his family. He and his wife, Michelle, met while stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1998. They were friends at first, but their relationship quickly evolved into love and they were married on April 18, 1999.
Harris admired his grandfather, LT Colonel Richard Lewis who was a bomber pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II and took inspiration from him to enlist in the Army himself. He was just 17 years old when Harris joined on June 18,1996 in Florida. He loved the brotherhood, learning new things, and traveling. With aspirations to always be a better soldier, he frequently signed up for classes to improve his expertise. Harris ended his career as an instructor in the U.S. Army Reserves. He loved training cadets on the IED lanes, among other subjects. Three days prior to his passing, Harris had symptoms of the flu. He was rushed to the hospital on the third day and suddenly passed away mere hours later. It was determined that the cause was a heart attack and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. He was only 40 years old.
Currently, Michelle lives on a farm. Her and Harris had a dream of owning a ranch and raising their children there. After his passing, she achieved that dream and takes care of horses and other farm animals. Michelle’s daughter, Nadia, is involved in JROTC and plans to enlist in the future. R.J. Harris, their youngest son of whom they finalized the adoption in February of 2008, is a strong young boy who loves the farm life. Amethyst, their granddaughter, was born October 8, 2023 to their oldest daughter, Alexis Harris. Harris’ legacy lives on through his children and each of the cadets and soldiers he interacted with throughout his nearly 23 years of honorable service. He will be forever missed, but never forgotten.
United States Army Staff Sergeant Shawn Allen Harris is survived by his wife, Michelle, and his children.