Ronald Harris

Ronald Lee Harris died peacefully Monday, February 8, 2010, surrounded by his loving family, at home in Oklahoma City. His death was due to complications resulting from a decade-long battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 67. Born March 24, 1942, in Wichita, Kansas, he was the son of the late James R. and Lucretia May Harris. The family moved to Ponca City (1946) and then to Pawhuska (1955), Oklahoma, where Ron graduated from Pawhuska High School in 1960. He attended Northeastern Oklahoma State University from 1960 to 1962. Then Ron enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in military intelligence in Japan until 1965. Following his honorable military discharge that year, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to accept a job with aerospace manufacturer McDonnell Douglas. There he met his future wife, Donna Dedrick. They were wed in December 1965, forming a bond that resulted in a 44-year marriage. Ron graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1967 with a degree in business and sociology and accepted a job at U.S. Fidelity and Guarantee (USF&G) insurance company from 1967 to 1972 as an insurance underwriter. He left USF&G for a career at Howell-Stone Insurance Agency, where he enjoyed much success and made many life-long professional friendships with people for whom he had the highest respect. Ron continued to express gratitude to and regard for his Howell-Stone family in the final days of his life. After a 37-year career, he retired two months ago in December 2009. Next to his personal family and his Howell-Stone family, the love of Ron's life was the family "cabin" on a steep, aspen-forested mountain in Colorado. Ron's drawing skills and his interest in architecture bore fruit in his design of a beautiful log cabin home in Lake City, CO, on which he, family, and friends began construction in 1984. Ron and Donna frequently welcomed family and friends to share in their love of nature, fishing, hunting, companionship, and great food at this comfortable mountainside, lake-view home for the past two decades. Ron was pre-deceased by his father in 1985 and by his mother only six weeks ago. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his brother, Ken, and Suzanne Harris (Alexandria, VA); his sister, Kalen, and Rick May (Greeley, CO); and his brother, David, and Susan Harris (Yukon, OK); 10 nieces and nephews; and two sons -- Stace, and wife DeAnne Harris (OK City) and Thad Harris (OK City). Stace and DeAnne blessed Ron and Donna with their two treasured grand-children, Katelyn (8) and Tyler (6), who enjoyed calling their grandfather "Papa." The family expresses their deep, heartfelt appreciation for the years of exceptional care that Dr. Michael Keefer and his staff provided to Ron during his battle with cancer. Their gratitude is also extended to all of the wonderful nurses and medical staff who cared for Ron in the oncology unit of Mercy Hospital. The service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, February 12th, at Grace United Methodist Church, 6316 North Tulsa, Oklahoma City, with the Reverend Ed Light officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Vondel L. Smith & Son Mortuary North, 13125 N. MacArthur Oklahoma City OK, 73142; Phone: (405) 720-1439. The family suggests memorial donations to either the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10016, or to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.