T.F Harris

T.F. (TONY) HARRIS WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2012 AT THE AGE OF 94. THE YOUNGEST OF 10 CHILDREN, HE WAS BORN IN WILLS POINT, TEXAS TO HENDERSON D AND SUSIE BELLE HARRIS. HIS EARLY YEARS WERE SPENT ON A FARM NEAR THE SABINE RIVER WHERE THEY RAISED COWS, HORSES, PIGS AND CHICKENS. SCHOOL WAS ALWAYS IN THE COUNTRY UNTIL THEY MOVED CLOSER TO TOWN. THERE, HE ATTENDED TERRELL HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE PLAYED FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND RAN TRACK FOR THE TERRELL TIGERS. HIS FIRST FULLTIME JOB WAS IN A DRUGSTORE. HIS NEXT JOB WAS IN A GROCERY STORE. ONE DAY, WHILE GETTING HIS HAIR CUT, THE BARBER ASKED TONY IF HE WOULD LIKE TO SING IN A QUARTET, AND THAT BEGAN HIS LOVE FOR GOSPEL QUARTET SINGING. AT A TERRELL TIGER FOOTBALL GAME, TONY SAW THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LADY HE HAD EVER SEEN. THAT BEAUTIFUL LADY WAS DOROTHEA GREENE, THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE FOR 63 YEARS UNTIL HER PASSING IN 2003. THEIR LIFE TOGETHER TOOK THEM TO PALESTINE, TEXAS WHERE HE WORKED IN RETAIL, FIRST IN A GROCERY STORE AND LATER IN A SHOE STORE. WORLD WAR II CAME ALONG AND WITH IT A DRAFT NOTICE. TONY SERVED IN 5 MAJOR NAVAL BATTLES BEFORE RETURNING HOME TO PALESTINE. TONY AND HIS WIFE WERE ACTIVE IN SEVERAL CHURCHES WHERE HE DIRECTED THE MUSIC. WHEN HE WASN'T WORKING AT THE SHOE STORE, DIRECTING MUSIC AND SINGING IN A GOSPEL QUARTET, HE WAS REFEREEING BASKETBALL GAMES. LATER HE AND FAMILY RELOCATED TO PASADENA, TEXAS WHERE HE CONTINUED HIS RETAIL CAREER IN SHOES AS STORE AND DIVISION MANAGERS AND SHOE BUYER. HE AND HIS WIFE WERE ACTIVE IN FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, THOMAS AVENUE BAPTIST AND FINALLY BECAME A PART OF THE MOST LOVING PEOPLE AT SOUTH MAIN BAPTIST. THERE HE SANG IN THE CHOIR, WORKED WITH ADULTS AND SERVED FOR MANY YEARS WITH HIS WIFE IN THE 2 AND A HALF YEAR OLD CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. AFFECTIONANTLY KNOWN AS "MR TONY", HE CALLED EVERY CHILD EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT TO TELL THEM HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THEM ON SUNDAY. MR HARRIS ALSO WORKED WITH THE DIVORCE CARE FOR KIDS PROGRAM AND WITH THE LIFE CLASS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS INDIVIDUALS. HE FINISHED HIS WORKING CAREER AS THE TOP MEN'S SUIT SALEMAN IN THE REGION FOR DILLARDS DEPARTMENT STORES. FOLLOWING HIS WIFE'S DEATH IN 2003, TONY WAS ACTIVE IN SOUTH MAIN'S SINGLE'S GROUP. HE WAS A FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE BOOTS AND SUITS GOSPEL QUARTET, ACTIVELY SINGING AS LONG AS HIS HEALTH ALLOWED. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS SONS, JACK AND WIFE JOAN OF GARLAND TX, MICHEAL AND WIFE PAM OF STONE MOUNTAIN, GA. AND KEVIN AND WIFE SHARON OF PASADENA TX AND DAUGHTERS KAY AND HUSBAND BILL OF HOUSTON, TX AND CHERILYN AND HUSBAND TOM OF PUERTO MORELOS, MEXICO. MR. HARRIS HAS 5 GRAND CHILDREN, TIFFENI, AMBER, ALISHA, JAN AND JON AND 5 GREAT GRAND CHILDREN AND SPECIAL GREAT NIECE DEBBIE BISHOP. VIEWING WILL BE AT ROSEWOOD FUNERAL HOME, 3939 PASADENA BLVD, PASADENA, TEXAS ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 FROM 5-7 PM. FOLLOWING A GRAVE SIDE SERVICE, A MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE ON HELD ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 AT 2PM AT ROSEWOOD FUNERAL HOME, 3939 PASADENA BLVD, PASADENA, TEXAS. MR. HARRIS WAS NOT BASHFUL ABOUT SHARING HIS CHRISTIAN FAITH WITH OTHERS. HE LEAVES A RICH HERITAGE OF FAITH FOR ALL TO EMULATE.