Harry Eugene Osborne

OBITUARY

HARRY EUGENE OSBORNE

July 30, 1950 -- July 3, 2026

Just a few weeks ago, we had our first Fourth of July without our wonderful husband, father, brother and friend Harry. We wanted to publicly express our love and appreciation for the man who put us first and whose guidance and support we will greatly miss. Harry Eugene Osborne was born in Tucson at St. Mary’s Hospital on July 30, 1950 and died in Tucson on July 3, 2026.

Friends and family will gather on September 18 at 11:00 a.m. for a graveside service and the internment of his ashes at Holy Hope Cemetery in Tucson. Later that day, we will all gather at Molinito’s (Oro Valley, on Oracle Rd.) at 1:00 p.m. to remember Harry and to celebrate the impact he made during his nearly 76-year life. Information is available at Desertsunsetfuneralhome.com.

Harry is survived by his wife of 47 years, Betsy Osborne. He is also survived by his children Laurel (Tim), Paul (Claudia), Scott, Cherie (Mark) and Melissa; his grandchildren Timmy, Kaylee, Caroline, Abbie, Eleanor, and Lauren; his great grandchildren Stella, Lydia, and Angelo; and his brother Greg (Lezlie).

Harry grew up in Tucson in the small, 3-bedroom house that his father Harry Sr. built in 1949 in what was then the east side of Tucson (the Speedway-Swan area). The family lived on modest means but there was a lot of love. Harry welcomed his younger brother Greg in March

of 1955. Tragically, their mother Martile developed cancer; there was little that could be done back then and she passed away in November 1956. Harry was 6 when he lost his mom, but he remembered her, loved her very much, and was crushed when she died.

So in 1956 Harry Sr. became a single father with a two-year-old and a six-year-old; it was rough going but he worked and took care of his boys as well. And less than a year later Harry, Greg and their father were blessed when Harry Sr. met Lela Goff, who had just lost her husband to cancer. Lela was an angel sent from heaven.

As he grew, Harry showed interest in woodworking and sports. His parents somehow were able to send him (and later Greg) to St. Cyril’s Catholic School. Harry was an altar server, liked school and graduated from St. Cyril’s in 1964.

Harry was then enrolled in the neighborhood public high school, Rincon High. At Rincon, Harry began to focus on (and excelled at) drafting and woodworking. While at Rincon, he built furniture for the family house, including a large, beautiful cherry wood stereo cabinet. After high school, Harry worked at a couple of entry level jobs; at that point he could have gone to college and done well, but he had another path in mind. After some soul searching, he enlisted in the Army.

The Army immediately recognized Harry’s special skills. After basic training, Harry was sent to Fort Belvoir outside of DC for some higher-level drafting instruction, but it was not long before he was teaching the classes. The family hoped he would stay there during the Vietnam conflict, but he was assigned as a draftsman to an Army Corps of Engineers unit stationed in Pleiku, South Vietnam. With irony, Harry described his job duties at Pleiku: “The VC would blow up a local bridge. I then designed a replacement bridge and supervised a work crew in building it. Within days or weeks the VC would destroy the

replacement bridge.” Harry completed his service and was honorably discharged.

Harry moved to the Salinas – Monterey area in the 70s, where he lived with his first wife Debbie and his children Paul and Cherie. But life isn’t perfect and there were bumps in the road – Harry and Debbie divorced. Thereafter, Harry met Betsy Gordon, who became the love of his life.

Betsy had been married and divorced; when she and Harry met, she had three children who all lived with her: Melissa, Scott and Laurel. Harry and Betsy lived in Monterey when they married in December 1979.

In the 80s Harry was having trouble with alcohol. On his own, and without going to rehab or attending AA, Harry quit drinking in 1985. He knew he needed to do this for his wife, his marriage, and his five children. He stuck with sobriety for the rest of his life.

Harry had a successful business in Monterey selling and installing atriums in houses. Later, he became the project supervisor for a contractor who built luxury homes in Pebble Beach. Harry was typically supervising and running multiple crews in the construction of at least a couple luxury homes at the same time.

When the housing market took a dive, Harry and Betsy headed to San Francisco. Betsy became the manager of the Home IV Nursing unit at UCSF. The housing construction market was tough in San Francisco, and Harry wanted to get his degree and explore going to law school. Harry did very well and was a top 5% student in his graduating class at San Francisco State. Along the way, he gleefully jousted and argued with members of an insanely liberal San Francisco State faculty, but mutual respect was earned. After graduation, Harry explored the option of law school but concluded it was not for him.

Harry and Betsy were then ready to return to Arizona. Betsy became the head of the Home IV unit at the U of A. Harry wanted to build and install cabinets. After working for a cabinet business for a bit, he formed his own company, Sazwood. He marketed and sold cabinets from a premier cabinet maker in Washington, Huntwood. His business then modified, customized and installed them in some high- end luxury homes in Tucson. The business was very successful, and he practiced his profession until he was no longer able.

In his semi-retirement, Harry continued to contribute. He built ramps for the disabled. He took the family dog Emma to the VA Hospital to share love with disabled veterans who could use a smile. Harry loved to do projects for neighbors, and they knew they could ask him for help. And he would always help a veteran in need if he could. He was proud to invite the veterans he knew to breakfast every Veteran’s Day.

Harry was kind and had a big heart. But he also was known and will be remembered for his sense of humor. He loved to share jokes and stories from his past. He also used his humor to welcome folks he did not know and to make them feel at home. He was very much loved and will be missed by us all.