James Roy "Jim" Harris

1923 - 2016

James "Jim" Roy Harris

A graveside service for James "Jim" Roy Harris will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pineville, LA with Rev. Scott Sullivan officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Pineville, LA.

James "Jim" Harris, 92 years of age, passed away March 24, 2016. Jim was born November 10, 1923 to the late Jim and Ruby Harris in Alexandria, LA.

He was a veteran of of WWII, entering the Army Air Corps In June of 1943 and served in England, Africa, and Europe as a radio operator on a B-17 until October of 1945. He was a member of the 5th Wing, 15th Air Force, 301st Bombardment and 32nd Squadron. He attended college for a few years but chose to start a career as he needed to support his wife and young son. He went to work for Sears and trained in refrigeration. As electricity spread into rural areas, he traveled vast areas of Louisiana over gravel roads to install newly available home freezers. Throughout his lifetime employment at Sears he progressed to the positions of service manager and assistant store manager at several stores and was also instrumental in setting up a new store in San Angelo, TX. Upon retirement he cleared land in Lufkin, TX and planted a 100 pecan tree orchard. On several occasions he presented demonstrations of successful pecan farm management for the Texas Agricultural Department in conjunction with Texas A & M University. Jim was a capable, self-reliant man who loved to work with his hands and loved being outdoors. He could work with any material, whether it be wood or metal, and craft a new tool to solve a problem. He could repair almost anything. His insatiable curiosity assured he was never bored from a lack of projects. He was industrious and hard-working. He loved to ride his tractor and many times could be found fishing with a friend. He is survived by his son, Frank Harris and his wife Babs of Natchitoches, LA (formerly of Shreveport, LA); his grandchildren Bernie Harris and his wife Michelle of Natchitoches, Elizabeth Sullivan and her husband Scott of Haughton, LA, and John Harris and his wife Heather of Shreveport, LA; great grandchildren, James, Josiah, Caleb, Noah, Austin, Erika, Molly, Johanna, Evan, Ethan, and Evangeline; sisters, Nel Pollock and Marian Harris of Port Allen, LA, and Jo Cukr of East China, MI; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Jim and Ruby Harris; his sister, Iris Madden; his first wife, Kathryn Harris; and his second wife, Jonie Harris. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Bernie Harris, John Harris, Elizabeth Sullivan, Scott Sullivan and Ben Keen. In lieu of flowers please make monetary donations in his memory to the animal shelter of your choice.