Harry John Mack

Harry John Mack was born on March 18, 1926, in Gatesville, Texas, to Martin and Mary (Koch) Mack. He died July 28, 2014, in Dallas, Oregon. He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1943, and briefly attended Tarleton State College before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1944. He served in the United States and the Philippines from 1944 to 1946. He earned degrees in horticulture at Texas A & M University (Bachelor of Science, 1950, and Master of Science, 1952), and a doctorate in horticulture from Oregon State College in 1955. On July 22, 1955, he married Joyce Harms, who was from Salem. Harry joined the Oregon State College faculty in 1955, and advanced to full professor in 1970. He retired from Oregon State University on Jan. 1, 1991. Harry extensively published as a researcher in the Journal of Horticultural Science and other journals. He enjoyed advising his M.S. and Ph.D. graduate students throughout his tenure. In 1992, Harry was awarded the Oregon Horticulture Society’s Henry Hartman Cup for outstanding service to Oregon horticulture. In addition to his profession, Harry enjoyed the Oregon Coast: walking on the beach with his wife, children and grandchildren, hunting for agates and exploring. Many times with family were enjoyed by the beach campfire, clamming and playing in the sand at Neskowin. Harry and Joyce created and enjoyed the woodland landscape at their home near McDonald Forest in Corvallis, where they resided for many years before moving to Dallas last May. Harry’s deep faith in a loving God directed his life. He humbly followed Jesus — loving others and compassionately reaching out to people. Reading and studying the Bible brought him much pleasure. In his later years he wrote a book, “How Does Your Garden Grow?,” integrating the parables of Jesus with the world of gardening. His family gave him much joy. He was married to Joyce, the love of his life, for 59 years. Surviving are his wife; and three sons and one daughter, Vince (Katherine) Mack of Clinton, Washington, David (Becky) Mack of King City, Roland (Lynn) Mack of Independence, and Marquita (Rene) Dumas of Seattle, Washington. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren, Lauren Johnson, Christopher Mack, Cory Mack, Skyler Mack, Jim Staley and Abbi Losee, Amanda Mack, Molly Williams, Alex Mack, Sean Dumas, Christina Dumas and Monique Dumas; and two great-grandchildren, Jason Dumas and Victor Johnson. Memorial services will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Suburban Christian Church in Corvallis. Memorial contributions can be made to the church.

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Harry John Mack

March 18, 1926 - July 28, 2014