James D. Harris
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Funeral services for James D. Harris, 85, Eudora, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Eudora, KS. A family burial will take place at Eudora City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 ~ 11:00 am, October 7, 2023, at the Eudora Chapel. Jim passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at Homestead of Eudora.
Jim was born on January 11, 1938, in Lawrence, KS, the son of Jerry and Hazel (Creeven) Harris.
He worked as a dairy farmer & then for USD 491 as a custodian & maintenance supervisor.
He was married to his wife Sharron for 29 years and she preceded him in death on January 19, 2023.
He is survived by his four children, Steven (Krystal) Harris, Amanda (Brad) Harris-Filbert, Jerri Harris, Candace Harris. His sister Gloria Burns, and thirteen grandchildren.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and sister Geraldine Muncy
The family suggests memorials in James’ name to the Eudora Historical Society and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
We remember Jimmy from Eudora Methodist Church. Your Mother was our youth leader for the Jr. Hi Agers. An active member of the Belleview 4-H Club where your project was horses. You farmed with your Dad.
When he had died you built a new Dairy Barn so you could go into milk production only to have a lightning strike kill all your dairy herd! That was a hard blow to take! The community knew you as an honest, caring, person. You loved this area and it’s history. You enriched the lives of many people by helping keep history alive. You put up a decent sign stating Hesper Corner on your farm to help everyone remember Hesper Community just down the road.
The last time we saw you, you admonished us to sell our place and move to a small place or room, in town just as you had done. Jimmy, you will be missed! But everyone one who knew you will think of you as the fine person you were.
The remaining members of the Lyle and Louise Weeks family
Our deepest sympathies to all of the Harris family. Your dad is at peace now. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you
Jim was a very important person to me, he was a dear friend of mine. Jim was very crucial to the growth and success of the Eudora Area Historical Society (EAHS), and the museum it manages, the Eudora Community Museum. Jim helped establish the Eudora Community Museum in 2004. In 2010, Jim developed a relationship with the City of Eudora, and impressed upon the City that it should help out its local history museum. The City complied with Jim’s wish, and hired me as a part-time Intern with the EAHS in January of 2011. I was the first, and to date only, professional employee to work with the EAHS. I became the full-time Executive Director of the EAHS in 2013. Jim reaching out to the City of Eudora was a pivotal moment for the EAHS. Without the City’s help, and later help from Douglas County, it’s quite likely that the EAHS would never have had the funds to hire professional help. Without Jim asking for the City’s help, it’s also quite likely that the Eudora Community Museum wouldn’t even exist today. And I certainly never would have started working with the EAHS without Jim’s initiative. Therefore, I have Jim to thank for the rewarding, fulfilling, and successful career that I have enjoyed in Eudora with the EAHS for nearly 13 years. I love the Eudora community, and the EAHS, and I will always be grateful that Jim made it possible for me to work with the EAHS.
Jim would visit me at the museum nearly every day for many years. Jim always wanted to know what was going on with the museum, and with the whole Eudora community in general. Jim loved all things Eudora. Jim wasn’t only a friend, he was more like a surrogate grandfather for me. Jim taught me so much about Eudora, and gave me great advice. Jim could be gruff, and blunt, but he was still a very sweet man, and a great friend. I admired that the older Jim got, the more forward-thinking and progressive he got. Even though Jim was a Historian like me, his mindset wasn’t stuck in the past. He was very progressive and forward-thinking. He continued to learn, grow, and evolve right until the end. I hope to emulate those qualities as I age. I will deeply miss Jim’s visits to the museum and his friendship. The museum will never be the same without him.
So sorry for your lost. Friend for years, like so many Eudora natives. Lots of good memories. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire family.
Dear Harris clan, Jim was a dear friend. When we worked together at Nottingham, we celebrated K-State victories, commiserated in the furnace room with Fran Stephenson, and partied with the whole faculty during the holidays. I appreciated his irascible sense of humor and grumpy-old- man persona. Underneath it was a heart of gold. I hold these memories dear, and I’m sure you have your own warm memories of Jim too. Hugs to you all.
Harris family-
I am so sorry for the loss of your dad. I have
so many memories of him. Hugs to you