Jack R. Harless

Jack R. Harless, 79, Sarasota, died Aug. 23, 2004. He was born Sept. 9, 1924, in Lafayette, Ind., and came to Sarasota in 1986 from South Bend, Ind., where he spent his business career. He served in World War II as a tail gunner in the 8th Army Air Forces in Europe. He graduated from Indiana Business School with a degree in accounting. He was a lifetime member of the Sarasota VFW and the American Legion Post 11 in Lafayette where he served as past post commander and was past state commander for Indiana for the state American Legion. He was a 32nd-degree Mason and a member of the Elks in South Bend. Survivors include his wife, Margot (Maurek); daughters Pam Prickett of Indianapolis, Beth Quigg of Elk Grove Village, Ill., Mary Myers of Fenton, Mich., and Trisha of Sarasota and Jacki Phillips of McDonough, Ga.; a son, Tom Gabriel of Naperville, Ill.; a brother J. Fred of Lago Vista, Texas; and 11 grandchildren. Services and burial will be in Lafayette at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sarasota VFW, 124 S. Tuttle Ave., Sarasota, FL 34237; or to American Legion Post 11, 1539 S. Ninth St., Layette, IN 47905.