Joe Gordon Harris

© The Stilwell Democrat Journal

August 8, 2007

Submitted by: Martha Real

Joe Gordon Harris
March 14, 1921-July 27, 2007

Joe Gordon Harris was born September 16, 1933 in Pettigrew, Arkansas and was received into the arms of the Lord surrounded by his loving family on July 31, 2007 in Stilwell, Oklahoma after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.

He retired from the Aerospace Industry (having worked at Cessna, Boeing and Rockwell International) and returned to Adair County to become a Gentleman Rancher. He throughly enjoyed raising and working his cattle, going so far as to name many of them.
Besides Ruby and his family, one of his greatest joys in life was to work on and drive his 1974 Corvette Stringray. He also enjoyed sitting on his porch, sipping iced tea, pondering life, watching and waving at passing traffic.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Desta (Eldridge) Harris, brothers, Lewis and David Harris, sister, Eula Sullivan, and his beloved only son, Joe Gordon Harris, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Ruby Harris, of the home; daughter, Gloria Lee Anderson and husband, Scott, of Broken Arrow, OK; grandchildren, Scott Christian Anderson, Jr. and wife, Cherie, of Tulsa, OK., Kevin Joe Anderson and wife, Laura, Steven Charles Anderson, all of Broken Arrow, OK., Alicia Marie and Brandon Michael Harris, of Rio Rancho, NM; great grandsons, Christian Scott Anderson and Kolin Robert Anderson, of Tulsa, OK.
He is also survived by his brothers, Howard Harris and wife, Carolyn, of Hurst, TX., Ray Harris, of Bartlesville, OK., Doyle Harris and wife, Julie, of Corpus Christi, TX., and Richard Harris and wife, Rebecca, of Fort Gibson, OK; sisters, Alma Hodge, of Dallas, TX., Nina Luce, of Winfield, KS., and Sue Ball and husband, Darrell, of Springdale, AR; Daughter-in-law, Andrea Harris, of Tucson, AZ; sister-in-law, Josie Harris, of Stilwell and Sue Webb, of Warner, OK and brother-in-law, Leon Girdner of Stilwell.
Other survivors include his step children, Danny Joe Cox and Brenda Baker, of Stigler, OK, Shirley Curran and husband, Mike, of McCurtain, OK and Ruth Ann Brassfield and husband, Robby, of Cisco, TX; ten step grandchildren, four step great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends and extended family.

Services were held Friday, August 3, 2007 at Hart Memorial Chepel with Bro. Bill Holcomb officiating.
Interment followed at Stilwell City Cemetery under the direction of Hart Funeral Home.