Lewis County Herald - Serving Hohenwald, Lewis County Tennessee Since 1898

Kermit Hugh Harris, age 94 of Hermitage, departed this life on Monday, October 12, 2020 at TriStar Summit Medical Center in Hermitage.

Born in a log cabin in Sutton, Braxton County, West Virginia on February 10, 1926 to Doris Marie Harris, raised by his grandparents, John Lewis "JL" Harris and Rantie (McElwain) Harris on the family farm. Following his primary education in Sutton, he moved to Akron, Ohio where he began working for the B&O Railroad.

Enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during WWII, he served in a number of battles including the Battle for Imo Jima where he was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart Medal. After the war, he went to work at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company where he met and married the late Tacy Garnet Lynch on April 26, 1948. Returning to West Virginia where they raised their children, Kermit Earl "Buck" Harris and daughter Lelah Marie Harris, he accepted employment with the Broughton Dairy. Mr. Harris's hard work and people skills moved him up the corporate ladder. Recognizing his outing ability to negotiate with people and business owners, he soon became a labor leader in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a position he held for many years. Upon leaving the union, but not from work, he founded the Harris Business Consultants LLC, from which he retired several years later, then relocated to Tennessee.

Never idle, he was soon recruited to drive a shuttle bus at the Nashville International Airport, transporting airport staff along with airline passengers, a favorite passenger was Ruth Soto a TSA Agent, who he soon married. After retirement, they moved to Hermitage.

Mr. Harris, always a Patriot and Marine, proudly displayed a Purple Heart tag on his truck, flew an American flag, the Marine Corps flag, and stood for the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

A lifelong member of the Disabled American Veterans, Marine Corps Association and Foundation, Military Order of Purple Heart, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Mr. Harris is survived by his wife, Ruth (Soto) Harris of Hermitage, son, Kermit Earl "Buck" Harris (Joy House) of Hohenwald; daughter, Lelah Marie Harris (Brian) Cunningham of Nashville; grandchildren, Kermit Jason Melvin Harris (Andrea Thornton) of Grand Rapids, Miichigan and Aundrea Tacy 'Lee Harris (Michael) Peterson of Richmond, Michigan; great-grandchildren, Kermit Mykah McCarthy Harris of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Alex'Aundrea Ruth "Lexi" Harris of Richmond, Michigan, and Alexander Michael "Axle" Peterson of Richmond, Michigan

Mr. Harris was predeceased by his mother, grandparents, and daughter-in-law, Pamela Ruth (Stark) Harris.

Military services were held at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Nashville on Wednesday, November 4, 2020.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DAV or a charity of your choosing.

Hermitage Funeral Home in Old Hickory assisted the family with arrangements.