John Lee Harris, 92, of Blossom, passed away Friday, December 29, 2023, at his home surrounded by loved ones.
Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 3rd at Bright-Holland Funeral Home with Bro. Hayland Hardy officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Knights of Honor Cemetery in Blossom. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Harris, the son of Earl Robert Harris & Mildred Helen Roughton Harris, was born April 29, 1931, in Rantoul, IL. He served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. While in the military, he served in Japan with the 3514th Field Maintenance Squadron where he supervised airplane maintenance. John was honorably discharged with the rank of Airman 1st Class and went on to serve ten years in the United States Air Force Reserves. While in the U. S. Air Force he received the Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Upon returning to Illinois, he owned and operated a dairy farm and later a grain and hog operation in Rantoul, IL. He then moved to New Mexico for health reasons and owned and operated a trailer park and laundry. He then moved back to Cissna Park, IL where he did contract farming. In 1978, he and his family moved to Blossom, TX where he continued to do contract farming until retirement. John was of the Methodist faith.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a great granddaughter, Ada Faye Armstrong, and siblings, Helen Stone, Dorothy Anderson, Robert Harris, and Joseph Harris.
Survivors include his wife, Judith McCray Harris, whom he married on September 4, 1960, building 63 years of family and memories, three children, Lori Daugherty & husband Ronnie, John E. Harris & wife Dana, and Lisa Pence & husband Mike, grandchildren, Mallory King & husband Jonathan, Raegan Armstrong & husband Luke, Matthew Daugherty, Emma Harris, Abby Harris, Brittni Baker & husband Joe, and Weston Pence, great grandchildren, Caden King, Colton King, Brantley King, Anson Armstrong, Clara Armstrong, Audrey Pence, Charlie Castleberry, Michael Baker, and Candice Baker, great great grandchildren, Harper Gilliland and Tatum Gilliland, and a sister, Julia Specht & husband Roscoe along with numerous nieces & nephews and a host of friends.
Casket bearers will be: Weston Pence, Matthew Daugherty, Caden King, Colton King, Jonathan King, Luke Armstrong, and Joe Baker. Honorary bearers are Emma Harris and Abby Harris.
To leave a message or tribute for the family please visit www.brighthollandfuneralhome.com
