Earl L Zaharris' Obituary
Earl L. Zaharris Jr., born February 23, 1945 passed away on Friday April 7, 2023. The son of single father, Earl Sr, he grew up in Tacoma, WA and attended Stadium High School. Leaving school before graduation, he obtained his GED and joined the army. The service took him around the US, to Germany, and ultimately to serve in the Vietnam War.
Following discharge, he found himself in South Carolina to figure out his next steps. He worked various odd jobs and even tried his hand at race car driving. Eventually he found his way to Central Carolina Technical Institute for career counseling. An aptitude test indicated he should consider either Diesel Mechanics or Nursing. The mechanics program was full, so he took a tour of the nursing program, realized with joy that he would be the only male in the program with all females, and signed up on the spot. The decision was good even if his reasoning was not. He retired from nursing after 30 years.
The words most appropriate to describe him are charismatic and complicated. As an LPN primarily working with psychiatric and dementia patients, his compassion and capability were unparalleled. He battled his own issues which only made him a better nurse.
He loved nursing almost as much as he loved drinking and flirting with women. The latter was one of his favorite pastimes, which is probably why he was married four times.
He leaves behind his children: Richard (Hiram) Whitmer, Earl (Joanne) Cramer-Brown, Greg Naber, Caleb (Isabelle) Zaharris, Nancy (Michael) Zahn, Zebadiah Zaharris, and Jerusha Zaharris, plus more than a dozen grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
A notable mention must be also be given to his last (ex) wife of more than 20 years and mother to most of his kids, Anna Zaharris—who is an absolute saint of a woman for putting up with him as long as she did.
He is sadly proceeded in death by his grandson, Jonathan Staurt.
Through all of his ups and downs, he loved us all as well as he could.
A casual memorial celebration for close friends and family will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate in his memory to The Headstrong Project to help other vets triumph over their trauma.
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