JOHN T. HARRIS

John T. Harris, age 76, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Friday, August 8, 2008, at the Mercy Health Center. He was born June 30, 1932, in Cedar County, Mo., the son of James Shirley Harris and Jessie Ellen Ford Harris. John had served with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Mary Louise Vender on March 4, 1954, at Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on March 1, 2003. John owned and operated service stations in the San Francisco Bay area for many years. He and Mary moved to Fort Scott in 1998. While in Fort Scott, John worked as a bus for the U-234 School District. He enjoyed traveling and camping and studying road atlases. In addition to spending time with his family, he also liked to fish and was an avid Raider football fan.

Survivors include three sons, Keith Harris, of Brentwood, Calif., and Kevin Harris, and Johnny Harris, both of Fort Scott; and a daughter, Sandy Dersham, Cloverdale, Calif. Also surviving are three sisters, Emma Hall and Sue Hoskins, both of Fort Scott, and Katherine Rector, Greenfield, Mo., seven grandchildren, and a great-grandson. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, David and Leroy Harris.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, August 14, 2008, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, Kan. 66701. Words of sympathy may be emailed to the family at condolences@cheneywitt.com.