Ralph Rogers Harris Jr.

Ralph Rogers Harris, Jr., aged 71, died on February 9, 2026, at his home in Kapaa, Hawaii. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Roger was born on August 21,1954, in Auburn, Alabama to Dr. Ralph R. and Eleanor A. Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Diane Koerner of Kauai; his son Blake Harris of Charlotte, North Carolina; his sister, Mary Ellen Belcher (Larry) of Auburn, Alabama; and his brother, Joel Harris (Ronda) of Vestavia Hills, Alabama.

Roger graduated in 1972 from Auburn High School, where he was a member of the Key Club and the band, and in 1979 from Auburn University, where he played the tuba in the Auburn University Marching Band.

Roger was a man of many interests and talents, working in several fields from social work to real estate. His numerous hobbies included environmentally-sustainable gardening, long-distance biking and running, creating music and art, and enthusiastically supporting the Auburn University football team. 

He lived in Hawaii since 2002, where he was inspired to pen many articles, short stories and novels. In his own words, 

"I was born in a land of red, dusty roads, skinny pine trees and elegant double-wides so it was quite an epiphany when I realized that I am drawn to the sea, its pounding and power, and its characters both above and below water.

"While I spent many of my working years in the air and land transportation arenas, my writing also draws from my experiences as a Ranch Hand, IRS Tax Examiner, Probation Officer and Domestic Violence Court Advocate and Facilitator.

"I began writing as a free-lance journalist on the Big Island and published 400+ online and print articles and blog threads on environmental topics ranging from Integrated Pest Management to Solar-powered Boats and nearly everything in between.

"In my island mysteries, Double Take and On the Edge by R. R. Harris, I hoped to meld my love of the Hawaiian Islands and traveling to them, with great photography and mysteries that tweak the imagination and engage the heart."

During his last few years, Roger suffered from a rare disorder, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Please visit CurePSP.org for more information on the disease or to donate to their mission to discover a cause and cure for PSP

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