WEST DES MOINES - The Reverend Dr. Merne A. Harris, 83, of West Des Moines, died Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at the Debra Wesleyan Church, 4025 Lower Beaver Road, Des Moines. Burial will be in the University Park Cemetery at 2:30 PM Wednesday. Visitation will be 6:30 - 8:00 PM Tuesday at the church. A prayer service will conclude the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Vennard College Student Aid Fund. Dr. Harris was born in Aberdeen, S.D. on June 5, 1923. He graduated from Sturgis (SD) high school in 1942, and the following year enrolled at Chicago Evangelistic Institute, graduating from CEI with a B.S.L. degree. Further academic achievements include a B.A. from William Penn College, an M.A. from Drake University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. An ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church, he had been a pastor, evangelist, and educator. He served at Vennard College in various capacities for thirty-nine years, nineteen years as its President. Upon retirement from Vennard College in 1987, he and his wife moved to Ankeny. At that time he became an International Pastor for World Gospel Mission until 1997. In 1999, Dr. and Mrs. Harris moved to West Des Moines. He was a contributor to several religious periodicals and scholarly journals, and authored three books. He was named "Alumnus of the Year" by his Alma Mater, was a member of the honor society Delta Epsilon Chi, and was named "Holiness Exponent of the Year" by the Christian Holiness Association. In 1999 he was elected President-Emeritus of Vennard College. His hobbies were reading, golf, and travel. It was a special day when he could have his granddaughters join him in chores around the home, or in opportunities to mentor them with their walk with the Lord. He is survived by his wife, Sue, of West Des Moines; son Robert of Chicago; daughters: Sharon of West Des Moines and Sandra of Los Angelis; two granddaughters: Mischelle Cox of Fairfield, IA and Mrs. Troy Gentry of Jackson, MS; four great-grandchildren: Taylor, Clayton, Tori and Cody Gentry; a sister-in-law: Josephine Rae Harris of Brandon, SD; 5 nieces and 8 nephews. The Bacon Funeral Home of Nevada is handling arrangements.