Jack Harris' Obituary
Jack Harris, son of Homer Jack and Dessie Thelma Penn Harris, grandson of James Harvey and Susannah E. Horner Harris and Lemuel Lee and Armilda Millie Fidelia Hay Penn was born November 18, 1921, in Orange, Texas.
He passed away June 3, 2013 at home in Longview, Texas with his loving family by his side.
Brought up in the oil patch where his father worked for Humble Oil, he moved numerous times throughout Texas and Louisiana during his youth, spent summers with Harris grandparents in Mineral, Texas, and—while living in the Humble Oil Camp at Darrow, Louisiana—graduated in 1938 from Dutchtown High School in Ascension Parish.
Enlisting in the US Navy at the age of 17 to pay for college, he started at Texas A & M in Bryan, but was injured during practice with the school's cavalry. With his knee in a cast for a year he enrolled in LSU's one-year business program. Upon completion, he began a one-year stint aboard the US SC 650. After December 7, 1941, the submarine chaser crew was ordered through the Panama Canal to the South Pacific for the duration of WWII. By November 1945, when he was honorably discharged at New Orleans, Louisiana, Jack had risen to the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
On April 26, 1946, he married Dorothy Jane D. J. Van Horn in Natchez, Mississippi.
They moved to Canyon in the Texas Panhandle, where Jack entered West Texas State University, majoring in Animal Husbandry and Agriculture. Following graduation, he relocated his family to Montgomery County, Texas, realizing the dream of running a stock farm. The drought of the 1950's drove him back to the oil patch where he worked for the next 31 years, retiring from Texas International Petroleum in January 1985.
A quite man known for his love of animals—specifically his beloved "Tatum"—he went about doing good wherever and whenever he could. Jack enjoyed reading, gardening, and woodworking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister "Mickey" Doughty of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, brother Malcolm Harris of Mandeville, Louisiana, sister "Macy" Matthews of New Iberia, Louisiana, and granddaughter Wendy Moore of Tatum, Texas.
He leaves his wife of 67 years, Doty Harris, and three children: Laura Larre White husband Jerry and Van Harris wife Caffie, both of Tatum, Texas and Tyler Harris of McDade, Texas.
There will be a time of visitation 6pm-8pm Friday, June 7, 2013 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview then funeral services will be the next day, Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 2pm at the funeral home with interment to follow services at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview.
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