Troy Edward Harris was born on April 13, 1988 at 1:07 p.m. He grew up in the church community of Cathedral of Holy Spirit, attending school there as well as participating in the soccer team activities.  He attended Camp Creek Middle School and graduated from North Springs High School in Sandy Springs, GA May 2007.  Troy was in Army Jr. ROTC all four years in high school and was on the LaCrosse team as well. One week post graduation, he was heading to Marine Boot Camp Parris Island.  He was in Okinawa, Japan his first 3 years active duty, came back to 29 Palms in California.  He then elected to continue as a reservist. His MOS was Civil Affairs and traveled with this unit to other countries representing the Marine unit to and building relationship with the community.  He loved doing this...meeting local community peoples learning of their culture.  His most recent assignment prior to retirement was on the 24th MEU ending November 2021.  He was honorably discharge from the Marine 4th Civil Affairs Group (4th CAG) as a reservist on March 3, 2022.  As a reservist, Troy often volunteered to be part of a Marines' Honors Funeral Service. He always gave respect to his fellow 'Devil Dawgs'.   

Troy worked with several HCA hospitals in south Florida as PBX operator for the hospital ~2012 through 2014, then joined Home Depot in 2014 through 2023.  

Troy graduated from Tulsa Welding School May 2023.  He was very excited and proud of this career choice for life.  He was interviewing the week he died.  

Troy was a very private man, had always been since a child.  He held close to the vest his private life, acquaintances and some experiences.  He was a sensitive man. Betrayal, lies told to him, theft, and realization that what he thought was truly a 'good' thing was really a farce really cut to his core.  He despised what he considered betrayal from friends, family, and at times was bewildered by course of action that the country he served took.

If you were his friend, he would go out of his way to console you, be there for you and support you.  Recently he went to console a friend over a weekend for a west Florida friend and continued to check up on him thereafter.  

He could be quirky, and funny and strongly opinionated. As a health 'nut'; he took vitamin supplements, eating only fresh vegetables and fruits, making his own concocted smoothies and had a strict body work out schedule at the gym throughout the week. He had become an excellent BBQ master using different hard woods instead of charcoal or gas to cook his liquor marinated meats of all kinds.  Peach Bourbon Marinade was a favorite.  Troy would cook up meats to take to work and share with his co-workers at Home Depot.  

Those points he held dear would be argued with intensity  Case in point:  He found an American Flag at his work place wrinkled up and stuffed in corner.  Troy was completed incensed by this.  He preach to others about the Respect to the American Flag.  Troy brought that flag home after he carefully folded it into the triangle , saluting and burned it.  That is the proper way to dispose of an old flag, he said.  That was written into the Respect to the Flag Creed!  

Troy was greatly loved by his family.  He was the only son of his mom and dad and being the younger sibling of his sister Megan  Harris, he was cared for and spoiled. We were a close family.  We supported each other and were there for each other.  Although there were times that Troy would be ultra private, he knew that he was loved and supported. Troy and Megan's care giver became his 'second' mama.  He communicated with Mama Brenda often and would visit her in the Atlanta area when he went there.  Mama Brenda loved Troy too. 

He was preceded in death by his father Benjamin Franklin Harris, Jr. in 2017.  This was very hard for him and his sister.  But they both muscled through it. Troy appeared at his dad's funeral in full dress Marine Blues inclusive of sabor.  He honored his veteran Army dad by standing at attention the entire service.  Troy was a favorite of his maternal now deceased (2020) grandmother Nell Mintz and the apple of his grandfather Ed Mintz deceased in 2000. His aunt Susan Mintz  (2002) was always humored by his antics as a child.  

He leaves his grieving mom, Cathy Mintz  formerly Cathy Mintz Harris and sister Megan Harris on this earth as well as a found older brother Jeffrey James and many paternal cousins.  We do not know why Troy took his life and  maybe never will.  We believe it to be an accident, not an intent. The loss of Troy in our lives is truly  devastating.  Whenever Troy was asked about how his day was, he would always reply."Just another day in Paradise".  We are praying that he is indeed in Paradise now without stressors, disappointments, or any barriers that he saw before him on earth.  

OOORAH! SSGT. Harris, Troy E. 

Til Vahalla!

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