Doodle Harris has passed away

[alexmarie]

I am sad to say that Doodle Harris has passed away. Funeral services are being held on Tuesday.

[Santiago]

I think that everyone that really knew Doodle will agree that he will be remembered as a very kind, generous, charitable man. He went out of his way on more than one occasion to help me out with things that probably seemed small to him but were big to me. He never made me feel like they were small though. I think that Doodle genuinely liked to help people in any way that he could. He was the quickest guy that I have ever seen to pick up someone else's check in a restaurant. He will be missed. RIP Doodle.

[Franny]

How sad. He will be well remembered and greatly missed.

[InletBchDweller]

Wow, this makes me very sad. :cry: He was a very sweet, kind, giving person. He will be missed. Prayers go out to his family.....

[SGB]

Very sad. Doodle has always been very kind to our kids and very generous with the schools and other charities in the area.

[Bobby J]

Doodle was one of those guys that always went out of his way to say hello. I did not know him very well but I truly admired his energy and his ability to always greet me when I saw him. He reminded me a lot of another great man, Cube McGee. My prayers go out to his family. He was a local legend and will be missed!:cry:

[momof2kids]

How sad :cry:...

Does anyone know where we can send cards, etc...

Thank you for letting us know this...

[greenroomsurfer]

Doodle will be catching the Endless wave. Most people don't know he brought surfin to this area. You'll only here me say this once for Doodle. WAR EAGLE!!!:cry:

[mandeharris]

Thank you for your prayers at this difficult time. Your kind words mean so much to us. He died peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital last night after battling Pulmonary Fibrosis for five years. His family was by his side. We are asking for donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in his name. A memorial fund is being set up with the foundation and information can be found at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org. All arrangements are being made through Emerald Coast Funeral Home. He would have loved to read these threads.

[Smiling JOe]

If he lived the good life which everyone says he did, he doesn't have to read them. He felt them all the while.

[Beach Bimmer]

Doodle was one of the folks who helped make 30-A unique and special through his development work, charitable efforts, and simply by his living life to the fullest.

As we passed those beachfront lots that used to have those green & white "Harris Family & Guests" signs on them, I said a prayer today that Doodle has arrived at the best beach heaven can offer.

May God be with Doodle and sincere condolences to the Harris family.

Jim Radford
Fired Up Paint-Your-Own Pottery
Seaside, Florida

[Amy@Avalon]

I did not know "Doodle" personally, but every time I saw his memorabilia displayed at local restaurants and the like I thought that he must be really interesting! Sorry that I never had the pleasure of talking to him about his impressive collection. I always heard he was "a pistol" as we say in the south. Sorry to see another of South Walton's old guard pass on.

[SuzyQ]

Doodle was a very special man as he demostrated that by his may acts of kindness towards this community. The one thing that sticks on in my mind about Doodle was his strong love and commitment he had for his family and this community . He loved everyone !! He loved all of his children , siblings and especially his wife . I remember when his mother died several years ago his comment to me was that Family was the most important thing in this life. I agree with him!!

My prayers are with the family at this time, I am sure Doodle is watching over them at this very moment. That kind of love does not ever stop!!
God bless you all.

[InletBchDweller]

Thank you for your prayers at this difficult time. Your kind words mean so much to us. He died peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital last night after battling Pulmonary Fibrosis for five years. His family was by his side. We are asking for donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in his name. A memorial fund is being set up with the foundation and information can be found at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org (http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org). All arrangements are being made through Emerald Coast Funeral Home. He would have loved to read these threads.

Doodle was a very special man as he demostrated that by his may acts of kindness towards this community. The one thing that sticks on in my mind about Doodle was his strong love and commitment he had for his family and this community . He loved everyone !! He loved all of his children , siblings and especially his wife . I remember when his mother died several years ago his comment to me was that Family was the most important thing in this life. I agree with him!!

My prayers are with the family at this time, I am sure Doodle is watching over them at this very moment. That kind of love does not ever stop!!
God bless you all.


:welcome: to both of you!!!

[jodiFL]

To Doodle:

WOW....I am sorry to see ya go! Keep those early days on the harbor close to your heart. I know we will.

[Chief Deputy TC]

While serving on the Board of Directors for the DeFuniak Springs Little League we had an urgent need to repair damage that resulted from hurricane wind damage from Ivan. At the time, I had never met Doodle. I was introduced to him at a lunch meeting in Freeport. We spent most of the time talking about his family, college football, and his passion for positively changing the lives of youth and especially youth athletics. He shared his vision of a centrally located county recreation facility, and specifically the need for a swimming pool complex to allow our county high school students to participate in swimming. He found it silly that with 26 miles of coastline and all the other inland lakes, bay and rivers, that Walton kids did not have the opportunity to compete in swimming.

Near the end of lunch, he looked at the photos of the damage to our ballfields, and made a generous donation that covered all the repairs, and later negotiated a matching contribution by the County. He saved our season that year and was a contiunous supporter every year after.

and of course..he would not let me pay for the lunch.

From a die hard Alabama Crimson Tide Fan...for Doodle I am happy to type the words "WAR EAGLE" my friend....

Cory Godwin
Chief Deputy Tax Collector
Walton County

[Franny]

These are all great memories of Doodle Harris and they will do more for the grieving family than anything else. Let's keep the stories coming.:wub:

[30A Skunkape]

I noticed a mourning spray on the Seacrest Beach lifeguard chair today. I am sorry I never met Doodle.

[organicmama]

I noticed a mourning spray on the Seacrest Beach lifeguard chair today. I am sorry I never met Doodle.

I second this. I have only heard of him through amazing stories of what he has done for this area. My family sends their love, prayers & condolences during this time.

[InletBchDweller]

I noticed a mourning spray on the Seacrest Beach lifeguard chair today..
:wave:

[aggieb]

To the Harris family, I am sorry for your loss.

[ShallowsNole]

My parents had several land deals with Doodle back in the '70s. they always had a good word to say about him.

The family can correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Doodle stumble upon a robbery in progress in Fort Walton once, and held the bandit at bay with a bow and arrow? I want to say the picture made the Daily News, and my dad had it framed in our store for a while. :clap:

[kurt]

If you're wondering why I deleted the link to the Destin Log article, I felt that the thread would have gone in a negative direction. It's my opinion that it is not the proper time or proper thread to be negative about a private citizen on a remembrances and condolences thread. If someone wants to start a new thread discussing the details, good or bad, of the man's life they are welcome to. To me it's about respect for all people, something most media outlets have no need or desire to offer.

I didn't know the man but I am sympathetic to his friends and family. May we all finally rest in peace when our time comes.

[SGB]

The image I remember most about Doodle, was from a few years ago. At the end of the school day, he was walking his granddaughter out of Butler Elementary. I was following close behind and could hear part of the conversation between the two of them. Doodle was apparently taking his granddaughter to the movies and she was very excited about going with him. Here was a very busy guy (real estate was hot then!) taking time out of his day to take this little girl to some kids' cartoon movie. That's a good grandfather.

[seagrovegirl]

God Bless Doodle and his family. Amazing man with incredible foresight......I didn't know the family man Doodle.....but the rememberences have warmed my heart. He will NOT be forgotten...not many men like him. Quoting Bobby J...."he was kind of like Cube McGee"....they both shaped communities and did it in a big way. Their legacies will live on forever....Thank you, Doodle. Rest in Peace.

[Kimmifunn]

:cry: War Eagle, Doodle.

[96viper7]

My name is Frank Golden and it is with great sadness yet with great pride that I read these comments about Doodle and his passing. You see, some of the comments are from people who never even meet Doodle, yet knew him through his great vision, generosity, good works, and compassion. This is the mark of a truly great man. The fact is that the dynamics of 30A is in a large part the results of the vision and "guts" of Doodle Harris. Doodle was a deal maker and would take a risk when others would not. I am privileged to say that I did know Doodle personally and at one time purchased a piece of property from him. It was a great and proftible experience. Doodle and I are about the same age and I will always have only the greatest respect for him and what he meant to the area. SoWal owes him a great thank you! My condolences go out to his family and friends for their great loss. My friend, Rest in Peace, you will be sorely missed. Who will fill your shoes? JFG

[angieb]

WE will always remember him for the great things he did and the caring heart he had for everyone he came in contact with. He always brought a smile to my face whether he was at the ball park, basketball game, or passing him on the street, he always had a warm inviting smile for me. My heart goes out to all his friends and family. The services were great, I laughed and I cried, it was a true honor to be there gathered with everyone in his memory. He will be missed.

[mandeharris]

Article that is referenced above...

[trikkster101]

i never really met him but whenever we used to visit he would let us stay in his house. my dad called him the big kahuna.

[cherijean]

Article that is referenced above...


Thank you for sharing Mande...Bobby actually remembered when that happened which sparked alot more stories during dinner last night.

We pray you are all doing well...... HUGS!