BURL HARRIS
ADA-Services for R. Burl Harris, 84, Ada, are 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church, Revs. Bob Langston and David Daniel will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Monday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. Harris died Thursday, December 30, 2010 at his home. He was born May 1, 1926 at Wister, Oklahoma to Claib and Lehmon Baldwin Harris. He graduated from Wister High School in 1944 where he was the Senior Class President. He served in the U. S. Navy in the Pacific and Atlantic theatres from 1944 until 1946 during World War II. He later served in the Korean Conflict from 1950 until 1952.
He graduated from East Central College in 1949. He was on the college debate team and the Student Council. He later attended the University of Oklahoma School of Law and graduated in 1955.
He married Janis Willey on July 5, 1949 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Mr. Harris was associated Kerr, Lambert, Conn and Roberts Law Firm here until the early 1960's. He practiced law in Ada from 1955 until retiring in 1991 and was the City of Ada Attorney for several years. Mr. Harris was active in Dale Carnegie where he taught several classes. He served as Master of Ceremonies of the Pontotoc County Jr. Livestock Show, and in 1969, he had a Grand Champion Steer and he was active in the Vanoss F.F.A. He was a longtime active member of the First United Methodist Church, and with Vernon Roberts organized the First United Methodist Church Foundation. Mr. Harris was a longtime member of the Ada Rotary club and served as President. He was a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Home Federal Savings and Loan. He was a member of the Pontotoc County Bar Association where he served as president, and the Oklahoma Bar Association where he served on the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission. He was a member of the Ada Lodge #119 AF & AM.
He along with Dr. Stanley Wagner, Dr. James Thomas, Harvey Faust, Oscar Parker and Hugh Warren organized the ECU Foundation which has provided scholarships for hundreds of students since 1970. He served on the Board of County Health Department for over 50 years.
Survivors include his wife, Jan Harris, of the home; a daughter, Dawn-Carole Harris, Ft. Worth, TX; a brother, James Harris and his wife Nancy, Spring Hill, KS; a sister-in-law, Letia Butler, Ada; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a son, Richard Harris.
Bearers will be Bob Dennison, Willard Rhynes, Verdo Hooker, Jack Hoover, Jack Lambert and Ken Johnson. Honorary bearers will be his nephews.
The family says those who wish may make memorials to the ECU Foundation, c/o East Central University, P. O. Box Y-8, Ada, OK 74821.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada