David L. Harris

David L. Harris, 76, departed this life on September 17, 2015 at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center in the care of Hospice. David was born in Richlands, VA on October 21, 1938 and moved to Bristol, TN at the age of 5 when his father opened his otolaryngology practice. He graduated from Bristol TN High School in 1956 and joined the Navy that September. He was an aerial as well as a criminal photographer while serving his country. Upon being discharged from the Navy in 1961 he returned home and attended ETSU. In 1962 he married Laurel Jackson. (They met when he was in the Navy and they dated for four years long distance.) Every other weekend he would fire up his 1940 Ford and drive for 14 hours to Chicago to have a date on Saturday night and drive back to Tennessee on Sunday. They first made their home in Bristol before moving to Kingsport in 1963.

He started his insurance career in 1962 with Life of Virginia and joined MassMutual in 1965 as an agent. In 1974 he accepted the position of General Agent with territory from Knoxville to Roanoke. In 1990 he became General Agent Emeritus until present. He was very proud to receive his CLU designation in 1969 as the youngest to have this degree from Knoxville to Roanoke.

He was past president of the Kingsport Association of Financial Professionals, the Tri-Cities Estate Planning Council and the Tri-Cities General Agents and Managers Association. David was a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table from 1966 to present and belonged to MassMutual's President's Club and achieved Top of the Council. He served on the Board of the Holston Valley Foundation before it became Wellmont.

About this time every year he would climb into his airplane and head for MassMutual agencies throughout the country to give motivational speeches for "Quota Buster" (a month long contest within the company.)

He loved electric trains, scuba diving, flying planes, astronomy, photography, hunting and boating and sailing on Boone Lake.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. H. Lee and Ella Ogle Harris; sister, Margaret Louise (Peggy) Templeton and husband, Peden; and sister-in-law, Mrs. Thomas M. Harris (Willie).

Those to mourn his loss are his wife of 53 years, Laurel; his daughter, Elizabeth "Edee" Sloan (Eric) of Chattanooga; son, Michael Harris (Melanie) of Kingsport; four grandchildren, Devin Harris, Courtney Sloan, Ethan Harris, and Jack Sloan; brothers, Dr. Thomas M. Harris of Richmond, VA, James E. Harris (Sylvia) of Kingsport, Dr. John D. Harris of Wilbraham, MA; and Dr. William G. Harris (Jena) of Oliver Springs, TN; and many nieces and nephews.

He lived by the mottos "Be careful what you really want for you will surely get it." and "T before you A"(Think before you act.")

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 5-7:00 pm at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Kingsport. The memorial service will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Brian Taylor officiating.

The family requests no flowers. Memorial gifts may be made in his memory to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, ww5.komen.org, Holston Methodist Home for Children, 404 Holston Drive, Greeneville, TN 37743, or to Wellmont Hospice, 280 Steeles Rd., Bristol, TN 37620.