William Basil (Bill) Harris

William Basil (Bill) Harris passed away peacefully in his own bed, Thursday morning, February 8, 2024, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, never waking up from what we like to believe was a deep, heavenly sleep granted by his Heavenly Father. Bill was born on July 31, 1953, into a military family in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, son of Lieutenant Colonel James Maxie Harris, US Air Force, and Betty Jane Goodman Harris, a well-known local artist.

Bill’s life in Albuquerque was rowdy with a household of 3 boys, Bill and his two brothers, Jamie and Vaughn. They always had a plan for the day whether it was riding bicycles or putting on a play for mom, dad and Gram (grandmother). Their lives would change when his father was asked to serve at the Pentagon for 5 years. This of course provided many learning experiences for everyone with access to Washington, D.C. and making friends with dignitaries from across the nation.

Upon Bill’s father’s retirement, the family returned to Albuquerque where he continued his high school education and decided to go to UNM College where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in Theatre. UNM provided Bill along with his special high school friends, not only a play-ground for doing what "boys will do" but also the academics they needed for their careers. Bill chose theatre which added yet another layer to his fun-loving nature and would eventually lead him to years of acting in local theatres, working as a DJ at the radio station and then landing a job at Channel 7 as the Host of Dialing for Dollars and the New Mexico Lottery. He didn’t stop there. Next learning experience would be how to write and produce advertisements for television. Bill found fame NOT on the theatre stage but on television; he could be pointed out in any crowd. Despite this little bit of fame, Bill’s humble heart and love for each person he worked alongside, even grade school friends old buddies from high school and college continued to be a priority in his life producing lifelong relationships.

Then, look out world, Southwest Airlines hires this young man with a heart of gold for serving others and a living example of what Southwest Airlines would come to be known as "the love air-lines". Bill was an easy learner and moved up through different departments setting his sights on becoming an Operations Agent.

This job would involve not only serving airline customers but working with pilots, flight attendants, Reservations, Customer Service and basically any other departments related to get-ting the planes off on time. Bill’s main goal was to offer each customer the best service he could along with his genuine smile and warm personality. After 24 years, he decided to move over to the Freight Department and learn something entirely different but still required a heart of service to customers using Southwest Airlines cargo services.

Bill expanded his life of service after retiring from 28 years at Southwest by volunteering to help clean up designated bus stops and any trash along the medians that were safe to clean. Retirement also gave him the time to prioritize his new found hours to see how he could help near by neighbors that were sick or had projects they needed help with and also volunteer getting donations to shelters and drug addiction rehabs.

He left behind his wife, Deborah of 16 years; his brother, James M. Harris in Belen NM; his nephew, David Harris of Utah; his niece, Emily Harris of Florida; his two steps son, Phillip Estes of Albuquerque and Robert Estes of Brooklyn, NY; and his cousin and wife, Jim and Nathalie Harris of Wimberley, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, James Maxie Harris, his mother, Betty Jane Harris and his brother Vaughn Harris.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity or nearby homeless shelter or drug addiction re-hab.

A Celebration of Bill’s life will be held at French Funeral & Cremations, 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM, on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM.

Please visit our online guestbook for Bill at www.FrenchFunerals.com

FRENCH - Wyoming 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE 505.823.9400 www.frenchfunerals.com