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Orderville • A solemn procession of people from around Kane County passed by the casket of slain Kane County sheriff's Deputy Brian Harris on Thursday night to pay their respects.
The viewing was held in the theater of Valley High School, Harris' alma mater. More people are expected to visit this small town at noon today, when his funeral will be held in the school's gymnasium, where Harris played basketball.
Nearly everyone who took part in Thursday's viewing had a story about Harris' kindness toward others, sense of humor and dedication to his community, family and job.
"He was a good man who loved his family," said cousin Dixie Baird, who grew up with Harris. "He never knew a stranger."
Harris, 41, who lived in nearby Mount Carmel, was killed Aug. 24 while tracking a burglary suspect in the rugged desert east of Fredonia, Ariz. He was allegedly shot and killed by a suspect who ambushed him with a high-powered rifle and fired on other law enforcement officials.
After a five-day manhunt, the suspected shooter, 23-year-old Scott Curley, was arrested Monday while he was allegedly trying to break into a house east of Kanab. He was in court in Kanab on Thursday and waived extradition to Coconino County in Arizona, where he is charged with first-degree murder.
Pat Kohley drove to Orderville from Duck Creek Village to take part in the viewing.
"We called him our mountain cop," said Kohley. "He was always very helpful doing a lot of volunteer work like grooming [snowmobile] trails and helping pull people out of the snow. This is just terrible."
Former Kane County Sheriff Max Jackson, who is now the police chief in Harrisville in Weber County, attended the viewing in dress uniform, as did the other law enforcement officials who attended.
He said he was glad Harris was hired as a deputy after returning from the Gulf War.
"It was a natural fit," said Jackson. "He wanted to be a cop."
Jackson described Harris as a sheep dog: "Protecting the flock from the wolves," he said.
Totie Anderson, a cousin who also grew up with Harris, said he was a "character."
"You had to look around before you sat down because he might have a whoopee cushion," she said. "I was always thinking about how I could get back at him."
Anderson, who now lives in Kanab, said Harris was always stopping by her house to fill her in on what was going on in Orderville, Mount Carmel and nearby Glendale.
"He'd pull my daughter over to make sure she was coming to a family reunion," she said.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz also attended to pay his respects.
"These guys [police officers] do whatever it takes, so it's sad when one is taken and they leave kids behind," said Chaffetz. "They make us proud."
Joy Blackburn came by to honor Harris, who was a friend of her late husband, Paul Blackburn, a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol for 24 years.
She said the dangers of being in law enforcement are always there.
"There's never a day that he [her husband] went to work that I didn't think about it," she said.
Harris leaves behind wife Shawna and two daughters, Kirsten, 13, and Kristina, 10; his parents; four brothers; and a sister.
Funeral is today
P The funeral for Kane County sheriff's Deputy Brian Harris will be held at noon today in the Valley High School gymnasium in Orderville. He will later be buried in the Glendale cemetery.