Richard Arlen Harris

Richard Arlen “Spider” Harris of Bryan entered the kingdom of heaven on Feb. 10. His earthly body will fulfill his long-time wish of returning to Lubbock, albeit for burial.

A celebration of his life will take place at Central Church of Christ, 1600 E 29th St., Bryan at 11 a.m. Feb. 14. Gravesite services will be held at Resthaven Cemetery, 5740 West 19th St., Lubbock, at 10 a.m. Feb. 16. The services will be conducted by Bob Wolfert of Bryan.

He was born Jan. 11, 1932 in Wanette, Okla., to Luther Pickens Harris and Evellyn Woodward Harris. He attended school in Shawnee, Okla., for the first grade. The family then moved for a time to Hobbs, N.M., and Whiteface, Texas, before returning to his parent’s original hometown of Lubbock. After graduation from Lubbock High School in 1950, he joined the U.S. Navy and served in San Diego, Jacksonville, Fla., Tennessee, and Moffett Field in Mountain View, Calif., where he said he got the best part of his Navy life – his wife! He married Jacqueline Ann Anderson in Santa Clara, Calif., on May 6, 1953. Following his military service, the couple returned to Lubbock in 1955.

Along the way, the couple welcomed three children to the family: Richard Glen Harris, Kathleen Ann (Harris) Phillips and Michael Joseph Harris. He attended Texas Tech University -- where he was a member of Delta Sigma Pi -- and graduated with a degree in accounting in January 1959. His tenure at Texas Tech yielded a lifelong passion for the school, which he carried everywhere like a Red Raider ambassador. His degree, teamed with his creative, entrepreneurial spirit, led him to a variety of ventures throughout his career.  During college he worked for Lubbock Engineering and later for Robert Heath Trucking Co. where he became the bookkeeper right out of college.

In 1969, he joined Institutional Directories, based in Lubbock, as an advertising specialist, which took him around the nation visiting college campuses for sales in many university campus directories. At the same time, he created a monthly magazine that focused on issues of women in the Hub City, “Women Today in Lubbock.”

Harris returned to the trucking industry in 1972 as bookkeeper for Robert Heath and as vice president of an affiliated freight company, Direct Services Inc. Eventually, he started his own freight company Omega Transportation, which he operated until retiring in 1998.

As a businessman, he was active in the Elks Lodge and a variety of charitable efforts in the Hub City. He was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed turkey season in South Central Texas. Harris had a musical talent that led him to play the piano by ear and even compose a few songs. He also enjoyed landscaping around the family homes and for a time had a vineyard and a pecan orchard near Acuff. He was a leader for years at the Acuff Church of Christ.

In 2005, the couple moved to Bryan. He was an active member of Central Church of Christ, Bryan, and a big fan of all his great-grandchildren’s events.
In the company of heaven, he will join his parents Luther and Evellyn, and his siblings Rachael Harris Liston and Eldon Harris.

He is survived by his wife Jacqueline, son Rick and his wife Debbie Harris of Lubbock, daughter Kathleen and her husband Kevin Phillips of Bryan, and son Michael and his wife Sandra Harris of Corpus Christi. His grandchildren are Spring Harris Robinson of Bryan, Nathan Harris of College Station, Michael Arlen Harris of San Antonio, Jacqueline Harris Kendig of Corpus Christi, and Jonathan Harris of Corpus Christi. His five great-grandchildren are Kaitlyn Harris and Haley Harris of College Station, Ethan Robinson and Emily Robinson of Bryan, and Zarah Kendig of Corpus Christi. He also was a loving uncle to several nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the many Hospice Brazos Valley staff, CHI St. Joseph’s EMS Cory and Elizabeth, and Visiting Angel Stephanie Johnson for their loving support and guidance.
Donations to his memory may be made to the Central Church of Christ’s Twin City Mission ministry, 1600 E 29th St., Bryan, Texas 77802,  or Hospice Brazos Valley, 502 West 26th Street, Bryan Texas 77803.