Kenneth Joe Harris

Kenneth Harris of Gruver, TX, passed away in Amarillo, TX, on January 7, 2026, surrounded by his family.  Kenneth was born on February 20, 1954 in Lockhart, TX, as the second of four children to Glen and Faye Harris.  Viewing will be Saturday, January 10, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home in Spearman, Texas.  A public memorial service will be held indoors at the Amarillo Botanical Gardens on Sunday, January 11 at 3 p.m.   A brief graveside service will also be held at Gruver Cemetery on Monday, January 12 at 11 a.m.  Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home, Inc. in Spearman, Texas.

Kenneth’s greatest passion was Jean Hudson Harris, his friend since childhood, wife of 48 years, and companion in many bold endeavors. They schooled their seven children at home, farmed and ranched together in the TX panhandle, traveled extensively, and delighted in time spent with grandchildren. 

Kenneth was a farmer, father, teacher, philosopher, naturalist, flight instructor, and lifelong pilot. He bought his first airplane while in high school and, later, taught his four sons and his wife, Jean, to fly. He wrote music, visited all but one of the national parks in the lower 48 states, and visited over 50 natural history museums. In 2018, he survived leukemia. Then he spent the next few years building a collection of fossils, rocks, and minerals that tell the story of how creatures like us came to live, with these amazing minds, hearts, and bodies, on such a remarkable planet. He considered his collection “a journey into deep time,” and he left it to the Amarillo Botanical Gardens to be displayed for anyone who wants to take that journey. 

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, four of whom he tended with great care during the last days, months, and years of their lives. He is survived by his wife Jean, seven children, 19 grandchildren, a brother, and two sisters.