Harry Nicholas Dragatis of Price, Utah passed away on March 27, 2020 at the age of 68.
Born on September 9, 1951 in San Francisco, CA to Nicholas Harry Dragatis and Athena Georgedes Dragatis. Harry’s mother Athena passed away of blood clot complications in 1953, when Harry was only 2 years old. He was taken in by joint effort of his father Nick, maternal grandparents Pete and Merope Georgedes, as well as Athena’s sister and brother-in-law, Joseph and Mary Georgedes Santi, whom he was raised and brought up in Carbon County with his sister, Mara Santi who was only 2 months younger.
Harry graduated from Carbon High School class of 1969. He spent his younger years helping his parents run the local movie theaters in Price. As an adult he went back and forth between Salt Lake City and Price working in various hospitality/hotel related jobs, with the most memorable being the opportunity to help with the grand opening and production of the Royal Inn Hotel, which was also owned and ran by his parents in the 70’s. Harry also spent some time in various areas of Nevada, working and living his best life in the different Casino’s between Mesquite, Laughlin and Wendover, NV. He enjoyed the exciting, fast paced atmosphere the different Casino’s offered and he had a thing for numbers and was very successful with different leisure gambling and sports booking games. His love for games and sports inspired him to open up a local video arcade in Price, when he eventually returned home to Carbon County.
Although he has had several long-term girlfriends over the years, Harry was never married, nor had any children. However, he held a special bond with both his niece Joey Paula “Jo-Jo” whom he had walked down the wedding isle in lieu of her father in 2010, and his dog Charley, whom was an American Eskimo that he inherited when Mary passed away in 1996. Harry loved his dog Charley more than anything on this earth. Patrons of Price may remember seeing him walk Charley all over the town, from park visits, grocery shopping or even stopping for a cup of coffee at the local JB’s, the two were inseparable. Caring for Charley brought lots of joy and meaning to Harry’s later years. It was very hard for him, when he lost his best friend and companion. He also took pride in caring for his home, inherited from his grandfather Pete, located directly behind the Greek Orthodox Church in Price. His faith and Greek Orthodox religion meant a lot to him and he made frequent visits to the local cemetery to pray for the loved ones, who had gone before him.
Harry idolized Elvis Presley, enjoyed good movies, was a huge sports buff and avid coffee drinker. You could always be sure to find him with the local sports section of the newspaper, cup of coffee and pen/notebook sitting down in one of the front booth’s at Main Street Grill or JB’s discussing the current carbon county gossip with other local coffee drinkers in the town. He loved to talk and would be sure to give you his 2 cents and then some regarding whatever he felt was necessary.
He is survived by his niece Joey Paula Welty and her family, his cousin and closest friend Andrew Hillas, half-sisters Peggy Anne and Nikki Kay Dragatis as well as many additional cousins from the Dragatis family.
Preceded in death by sister Mara, parents, grandparents and other family and friends who have gone before him. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 61 South 200 East, in Price, Utah on behalf of his memory. “May his memory be eternal”.
Services for family and close friends will be Tuesday, March 31, 2020, 11:00 a.m., at Mitchell Funeral Home. The service will be live streamed via the internet accessible on the Mitchell Funeral Home Facebook Page. Burial will be in the Cliffview Cemetery, Price. Arrangements entrusted to Mitchell Funeral Home where friends are always welcome daily and may share memories of Harry online at www.mitchellfuneralhome.net