James Harris was born July 6, 1943 to Albert and Birdie Harris in Yonkers, Oklahoma The youngest of ten children, James graduated from Wagoner HS in 1962. He met and married Dottie (Medlin) Harris January 1963, and they were married for over 61 years.

In 1963, they moved to Washington state. In 1965, they returned to Oklahoma where James began his career as a carpenter in Wagoner. For over 50 years he and his brother, Wayne, built many homes and commercial properties in and around the area.

He loved playing his guitar in church where he attended at Hillcrest Freewill Baptist. He was an avid sportsman, loved flying his plane, and was a lifelong fisherman who enjoyed sharing his catch with everybody. He especially loved having fish fry's in the back yard with lots of friends in attendance and where he and friends gathered to play gospel music and sing. He had a circle of loving friends and neighbors whom he took great pride in bragging on when anyone came to visit.

He died, after a fall, of heart complications on February 8, 2024. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his wife Dottie Harris, his children, Virginia Mencer (Glenn) of Moore, OK, Cletus Harris (Barbara) of Mazie, OK, Chris Harris, and his sister Barbara Ford of Independence, MO. He had 7 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters and 4 brothers.

A Memorial Service, honoring the life of James Harris will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Hillcrest Freewill Baptist Church, in Wagoner, OK, at 10:00 a.m.