James Leonard Harris

James Leonard Harris, a beloved husband, brother, father and grandfather, was born Sept. 9, 1949, in Hobart, OK, and passed on May 2, 2024, in Oklahoma City, after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was 74.

The son of Annabel and Clay Harris, Jim learned the value of work early, starting with a newspaper delivery route at age 10. By the time he graduated from Hobart Public Schools in 1967, he had also worked summers plowing fields, harvesting wheat and running a film projector at the Esquire Theater - all while lettering three years in football and wrestling, and playing saxophone in the Bearcat marching, concert and stage bands.

Jim continued his education at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where he participated in the Cowboy Marching Band and Forestry Club before graduating with a degree in Forest Ecology and Management in 1971. He earned a Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Oklahoma in 1993.

Jim had a distinguished career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, working at lakes Marion, Waurika, Eufaula, Canton, Robert S. Kerr and finally Oologah, where he served as lake manager before moving to the USACE District Headquarters in Tulsa in 1981 as an environmental biologist. Jim was eventually named Environmental Compliance Officer for the district before retiring in January 2016 after 42 years of service.

In his spare time, Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing and the outdoors. He was a talented woodworker and gardener. He enjoyed coaching youth sports, helping with school projects and cheering for Oklahoma State. However, his greatest happiness was found in spending time with his family.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 47 years, Anita; son, Michael; twin brother, Joe, and wife Barbara of Elgin; sister, Becky Kellogg, and husband, Steve, of Dill City; sister-in-law, Nonnie Harris, of Gotha, Fla.; son-in-law, Taylor Winge; grandson, Sawyer James; sister-in-law, Vicki Land; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents Annabel and Clay; brother, Bill; and daughter, Amanda Winge.

A gathering of friends and family will be held on Friday, May 10 from 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. to honor the life of James Leonard Harris. Please join the family during this time at Ingram, Smith and Turner Mortuary. 

In lieu of flowers, Jim requested donations be made to the Amanda Winge Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

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