Jerry Edward Harris, 79 years old of Pampa, Texas, left this life to spend an eternity gazing at God’s Glory on Monday, February 27, 2023, at his home with loved ones at his side. Jerry was born on August 11, 1943, in Warren, Arkansas to Thomas and Louise Harris.
While a senior in high school, Jerry began working at Ideal Foods. He graduated from Borger high school in 1961. He married the absolute love of his life, Lela Ballard on July 17, 1965. They both attended West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. They moved to Lefors in 1968 and then moved to Pampa in 1979 with Jerry continuing his employment with Ideal Food Store. Jerry retired from Ideal in 1985 and began working at Randy’s Grocery followed by McKesson Beauty Supplies and finally retired at the age of 62 from being a Little Debbie Distributer.
Having been gifted with a talent for oils and acrylics, Jerry spent most of his spare time painting. He was intrigued with painting animals of the wild and the first lion he ever painted, won 1st place in the Tri State Fair art exhibit. He also painted seascapes and his beloved mountain scenes as they reminded him of Red River, his “home away from home”. In his younger years, Jerry enjoyed camping, fishing, deer hunting with Scott and Chris, riding his horses, Sunday and Dakota and his personal museum collections of nutcrackers and Bibles.
Jerry was known to have a bit of an ornery streak and he thoroughly enjoyed teasing others to “get a rise from them”, however, he was also so tenderhearted that nothing in this life was more important to him than his family. They were his passion and Lela was the one true love of his life!
Jerry was welcomed into heaven by his parents and Lela’s parent’s, Jim and Cora Mae Ballard, and her stepmother Gladys Ballard; brothers-in-laws Weldon Southerland, Ben Ballard, Kenneth Ballard, Eugene Stipe; sisters-in-laws Kathy Ballard, LaJuana Stipe, and Shirley Hanes.
Loved ones who remain here to cherish his memories are his precious wife, Lela Harris of Pampa; son, Scott Harris and wife Melissa of Pampa; daughter, Melissa Moore and husband Marty of Canyon; two sisters, Brenda Carr and husband Jim of Terrell, TX, Cathy Southerland of Amarillo; sisters-in-law, Aliene Ballard of Canadian, Jane Ballard of Palm Desert, CA; brother-in-law, Danny Ballard of Borger; four grandchildren, Jordan Weilbrenner of Canyon, Erika Berry and husband Spencer of Amarillo, Christopher Harris and Kenleigh Kinnison of Pampa, Cassi Perryman and husband Tyler of Borger; five great-grandchildren, Thomas Weilbrenner, Nolan Weilbrenner, EmberLynn Perryman, Elizabeth Perryman, Emmersyn Perryman and a host of nieces, nephews and extended family members who will all miss his orneriness and love of laughter. The family would like to extend special thanks to Linda Schwab for her loving care.
Celebration of Life Memorial Services are scheduled for 10:00 am, Saturday, March 4th, 2023, at First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Gray Street with Reverend Dr. Ken McIntosh officiating. Inurnment will follow at 2:00 pm in the Edith Ford Canadian Cemetery. The family has entrusted the cremation care of their loved one to Winegeart Funeral Home.
Should donations be a preference, the family suggests they be made to First Presbyterian Church, Book of Memories, 525 N. Gray Street, Pampa, TX 79065, Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 1535 West Loop S, Houston, TX 77027 in memory of Jerry.
To leave condolences or words of comfort for the family on Jerry’s Book of Memories, please visit www.winegeartfuneral.com.
