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JAMES D. HARRIS went to join his beloved wife, Betty J. Harris on November 29, 2008. Jim was born on July 31, 1927 in Duncan, Oklahoma to R.N. and Bessie Harris.
He graduated from Duncan High School in 1946 earning All State Honors in football in 1945. Thereafter, he attended Southeastern State College in Durant, Oklahoma on a football scholarship starting as a freshman. He earned All Conference honors for three (3) years and was named an All American football player in 1947.
It was at Southeastern that he met the love of his life, Betty June Stewart, whom he married on September 9, 1949, spending almost 56 years with her before her death.
Jim graduated from Southeastern in 1951 with a Bachelor's of Science in Education. He began his coaching and teaching career at Yukon High School, then moved to Antlers High School. In 1955, he began teaching and coaching at Midwest City High School. In 1963 he moved to Carl Albert High School where he was the first football coach and Athletic Director of the school. In 1976 Carl Albert High School honored Jim by naming its football stadium Jim Harris Field. In 1975 he was honored by being named to the Jim Thorpe All Time Greats of the 1940's. He was inducted into the Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletic Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1979, and the Duncan Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.
Despite these honors, Jim took more pride in being awarded the title of Grandfather by his grandchildren, James Kyle Mays and Kacy Leigh Mays. He often said he worked harder in retirement, chauffeuring Kacy and her friends to preschool, taking Kyle to early morning weigh-ins before all day wrestling tournaments, and attending countless dance competitions and cheer competitions. Yet, Grandfather never tired of supporting and caring for his family. He took loving care of his wife, Betty June in her illness, assuring that she attended all the grandkids' activities.
Grandfather was preceded in death by his parents, R.N. and Bessie Harris and his two (2) sisters, Maxine and Barbara. He is survived by his daughter, Jimanne Harris Mays, his grandson, James Kyle Mays and wife, Evan Mays, and his granddaughter, Kacy Leigh Mays.
Grandfather you are missed and will always be missed. We want you to know we promise to always accentuate the positive in everything as you have taught us.
Services will be Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Meadowood Baptist Church in Midwest City. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First National Bank of Midwest City in the name of James Harris for the Carl Albert High School Athletic Department.
Funeral
Meadowood Baptist Church
2816 N Woodcrest Dr
OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK 73110
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