Lafayette Joseph Harris (Lafe), Has “TA” Ehe (American Horse) was born November 5, 1935 in Lame Deer to George and Martha Harris. Lafe started his journey back to the Lord on November 29, 2013. Lafe grew up on the Muddy Creek and lived with his grandfather and grandmother, Bill and Margret Harris. In his younger years with his grandparents, Lafe enjoyed working doing ranching, farming, and cowboying. Lafe attended grade school on Muddy Creek in his earlier years then attended school at St. Labre Mission for the remainder of his school years. He enjoyed playing basketball and baseball at school. Lafe and four other Cheyenne Players won a national Indian Basketball Champion Tournament in Chauwawa, Oregon in the mid 1950’s.
After high school graduation, Lafe joined the US Marines in 1958. After basic training, Lafe was selected for the National Color Guard in Washington, DC. During his duty tour in DC, he was assigned duty at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Arlington Nation Cemetery, the White House, and the National Capitol Building. He was extremely proud to serve his country. His assignments also included military escorts for diplomatic dignitaries such as Russian President Nikita Khrushchev. After finishing a four(4) year tour in the Color Guard, Lafe joined the US Navy four eight(8) years. In the Navy, Lafe served with an underwater demolition team. Lafe was discharged with injuries he obtained in the Navy while in Australia. Lafe moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he could receive ongoing medical care from the military.
At Cheyenne, Lafe met and married Kay Ebeling in the late seventies. Kay passed on while they lived in Sheridan, Wyoming where Lafe spent most of his later years. Lafe is survived by this sisters, Delpha, Emma, Theresa Harris. Bother’s Troy and Arlee Harris. Step sister, Phyllis Teeth. Three step boys with Kay. Family members that have previously pasted on to eternal live: His grandparents Bill and Margret Harris; Parents George Harris, Martha Teeth; stepmother Bernice Harris; wife Kay; bother’s George(Jr.) and Baptise Harris; step brother’s Ross and Austin Teeth; Aunt’s and uncle’s: Mary Ewing, Lizzy Elliot, Julia Walkslast, Lucille Fisher, Florence Harris, Agnes Mason, Ray Harris.
Tana Waters says
I will miss you Uncle Lafe…my greatest cherished memories are of the scenes you rode in the movie Pow Wow highway, and all those yatzee games, chocolate cake and chasing horses up the creek..bless you in heaven, your niece-TW
W. Don Kerr says
I have known Lafe since 1958. We met in Basic Training at Ft. Carson, CO, and shared many experiences. We both went to Washington D.C. where we served in the Presidential Honor Guard. I did not reinlist when my tour of duty was up, but we kept in touch.
In later years he and Kay were guests in our home in Oklahoma and we visited them in Cheyenne. We last saw Lafe in October of 2012 when we were passing through Sheridan.
We will miss him.
Bill Ebeling III says
Love you and will always be in my thoughts grandpa Lafayette. So many memories you have left us with . Thank you for loving my grandma Kay and always taking care of her . The both of u were the backbone of my childhood family life , I am most grateful for that . Every holiday spent together with lots of love. Lafayette taught me many things as a child from all types of card games to sports as well as sharing his life stories, which he had many .Playing the game of golf was a passion that we shared together after having introducing me to the game when I was 5 or 6. I know grandpa Lafayette will be proudly looking down on all of his family from heaven with my grandmother by his side . Lafayette was a real life hero .
I miss you pal and Thank You Nov. 9 , 2014
Mark Smith says
Lafayette was a wonderful man. Laura and I knew he and Kay from Prescott, Arizona. They spent many years in Prescott as Kay worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Prescott. We enjoyed many road trips and holidays with Lafayette. I often think of our Trip to Douglas AZ in Lafayettes large sedan sing “Cattle Call”. A great man. Many good times.