James Homer Harris longtime Cushing resident and businessman, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 in Oklahoma City at the age of 81 years.

The son of the late Fred Homer Harris and Eva Lee Reedy Harris, James was born on September 27, 1932 in Avery, Oklahoma and was raised and educated in the Avery, Happy Valley and Agra area, graduating from Agra High School.

James was united in marriage to Gloria Nadine Paxton on December 29, 1965 in Pawnee, Oklahoma. To this union, one daughter Jami was born.

James had worked on the Trans Alaska Pipeline as a materials coordinator and later in Canada before returning to Cushing in the late 1970’s. At this time he was involved with oil production and later was part-owner operator of the Puls Oilfield Equipment Company.

He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church and a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served during the Korean Conflict.

He was an avid golfer; enjoyed classic cars; spending time outside taking care of his yard; visiting with his friends at Braums, the Homestead, or at the Agra Senior Citizen Center. He always had good stories to tell. He had always been a big supporter of Cushing athletics and anything to do with the University of Oklahoma. The neighbor kids referred to him as “Papa James”.

James is survived by one daughter, Jami Germain and her husband Phillip of Morrison, Oklahoma; one sister Pauline Gillaspy and her husband Alvin of Oxnard, California; a sister-in-law Phyllis Curtis of Jamestown, Missouri; a brother-in-law Gene Coffman of Kansas City, Missouri, several nieces and nephews whom he adored and many other relatives and friends including a special friend Darlene Gaither.

In addition to his wife and parents, James was preceded in death by three sisters, Mae Cook, Jennie Smith and Hazel Herrmann; and two brothers Fred Harris and Elmo Harris.

Services will be Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church in Cushing with Brother Keith Moore officiating.

Burial will follow in the Avery Cemetery.

The family will greet friends on Friday, April 11, from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Floyd Family Center.

Memorial contributions may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, P.O. Box 818, Stillwater, OK, 74076, in his memory.