ISLESBORO — Harris Evans Pendleton, 88, of Islesboro, passed away on December 31, 2024. Born on August 6, 1936, in Belfast, Maine, to Lloyd T. and Lydia T. Pendleton, Harris was raised on Islesboro, where he developed his love for island life and its close-knit community.

Harris attended Islesboro Central School and later graduated from Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine. After a short time at the University of Maine, he joined the U.S. Navy, where he served as a catapult operator aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVA 42) and the USS Ranger (CVA 61. His naval service took him to various parts of the world, including Gibraltar, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Greece, the Arctic Circle, Trinidad, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Mexico, the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii, and Hong Kong. His adventures and experiences left him with countless stories, and he often said that he had been everywhere in the world except the Persian Gulf.

After his time in the Navy, Harris returned to Islesboro, and later Belfast, where he worked in a variety of professions over the years. He was a painting contractor, greenskeeper, lobsterman, landscaper, and distributor for Pepperidge Farm, Tom’s Food, Best Foods, and McKee Foods. He was proud to be a “jack of all trades,” always keeping busy with projects. Harris was once featured in an article in DownEast Magazine while scalloping off the coast of Islesboro.

He was a member of the Theta Chi Fraternity, the Free Masons, Islesboro Lodge, and the Painters' Union of America.

Harris married his beloved wife, Susan (Boggs) Pendleton, with whom he shared many memorable adventures, traveling many times to Tennessee and West Virginia, as well as several sailing trips with his friend Christopher “Twoey” Bertolett II. They sailed the length of the Intracoastal Waterway and visited destinations including Belize and various islands throughout the Caribbean. Harris cherished the moments spent exploring new places with Susie and enjoyed traveling as much as he loved coming back home to his roots. Harris traveled to the Western U.S. in 2010, and with his daughter and her family, visited eight states, nine national parks and three state parks, where he was able to see the giant redwoods and sequoia trees he had always dreamed of. He ended this trip ziplining over the Las Vegas Strip at the age of 74.

Harris became interested in genealogy in his later years and logged many hours on the computer and visited cemeteries all over Maine and Islesboro putting together an extensive Pendleton Family Tree. Harris loved to watch and feed the birds and took particular interest in feeding a flock of crows who visited him daily. He waited and watched every day until his favorite crow, “Mike Rose”, came to visit. Harris had a special love for cats and rescued four cats over the years—Misery, Prince, Leon, and Ollie.

In his later years, Harris moved to Rockland to be closer to his daughters Monica and Kristie and then spent his final year in Crystal River, Florida with his daughter Rachel. He found joy in the warm Florida weather, watching birds, feeding squirrels, and caring for an orange tree, of which he was very proud when it produced four oranges.

Harris was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Susan; his sister, Janet Gilligan; and his grandson Dimitri Bourkas.

He is survived by his three daughters, Monica (Eric) Tolman, Kristie (Daniel) Bourkas, and Rachel Pendleton; his grandchildren Nathan Tolman (Brooke), Clay Tolman (Katherine J.), Lydia James, and Nico Bourkas; his great-grandchildren, Ava Tolman, Ben Tolman, Isabelle Tolman, Jack James, Reed James, three nephews and their families, and his special friends Martha Flint and Bonnie Pendleton.

Harris’s life was one of adventure, service, and family. He will be remembered for his many talents, his love for his family, and his indomitable spirit.

A celebration of Harris’s life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a local animal shelter in Harris's memory.