Joe Harris

Thomas Joe Harris, age 72, of Benbrook, Texas died Friday, December 5, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Harris was born November 2, 1953, in Forrest City, Arkansas, to the late Aubrey Lee “Sonny” and Marilyn Causey Harris and was raised in Forrest City, Arkansas.

Joe married Rebecca Jo Penn, the love of his life, in 1975 while attending ASU, Jonesboro, Arkansas. They were married for 47 years, and she preceded him in death in 2022. Also preceding him in death were brothers, Ben Boren Harris and John William Harris.

Joe is survived by two daughters, Mary Joni Harris and husband GJ Hodson of Arlington, TX, and Marilyn Elizabeth Patton of Benbrook, TX; one brother, Aubrey Lee “Al” Harris III and wife Nell of Little Rock, AR; and three granddaughters, Maya Cortez, Ava Shaffer, and Audrey Patton.

Joe graduated from Forrest City High School in 1972, attended Arkansas State University, and graduated the University of Oklahoma in 1978 with BS Engineering in Meteorology.

After graduation, Joe worked as a meteorologist for Phelps Dodge Corp, Ajo, Arizona, W.A.R.N. Inc., Wellston, Oklahoma and the U.S. Army Atmospheric Science Laboratory in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. His career moved to the National Weather Service in 1985 at WFO Brownsville, Texas, AWSC Stoneville, Mississippi, WSMO Stephenville, Texas and 20 years at WFO Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas until retiring in 2015.

Mr. Harris was one of nine NWS meteorologists awarded the U.S. DOC Bronze Medal for “on-site weather forecasts and warning efforts to protect first responders during the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery during the spring and summer of 2001”. This led him to become a certificated Incident Meteorologist, and he worked on many wildfires across the western and central US between 2006 and 2015. Those years as an IMET were the most rewarding of his NWS career.

In retirement, Joe spent his remaining years enjoying and supporting his wife, daughters, and grandchildren. Together they enjoyed gulf coast vacations in Galveston, weekend trips across Texas, visiting Fort Worth’s art museums, local art festivals and music concerts. During his early to middle adult life, he studied photography, wood working, computer programming and repair, automotive repair, carpentry, hiking and camping. He had a great passion for all genres of music, especially old Blues and Motown, as well as mathematics, astronomy, and science in general.

His father introduced him to turkey hunting in 1983, and they spent many spring turkey seasons together at Hardin Point Hunting Club until his father’s death in 2010. Afterwards, he hunted gobblers with his nephew, Will Harris. After retiring, he enjoyed hunting ducks and deer in the White River bottoms with his older brother Al Harris.