Joe Hansford Harris
It was a blustery, warm Fall day on Sunday, September 29, 2024, when Joe Hansford Harris went to be with his Savior. He was 81. With a mid-wife’s help, he was born on April 14, 1943, in a small house near “belly- ache” curve on Hwy 371 between Prescott and Blevins, Arkansas.
That same curve in the road would later become the location of Harris Grocery, the family business at which he lived and worked, pumping gasoline and sweeping the floors for his mother. The store also became the venue for decades of epic Harris Family Reunions, at which Joe was often a prankster at the center of attention. He loved the reunions with his family so much, that he was almost always the first to arrive and the last to leave.
He grew up there in the post-depression south, running top-speed down gravel roads bare-footed, playing shooting guard for the Blevins High basketball team, driving a ’56 Chevy – a little too fast, sometimes, maybe – and finishing school in 1960.
Joe Harris is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mary Louise Shope Harris, by his own account “the most beautiful girl he had ever seen”, the love of his life, and the only person in the world who could have tamed him a little. The couple met in 1959 at the Buchanan’s Freez-O in Prescott, where Mary Louise worked. It was there he spent most of his money buying burgers she made, and spent the rest at the jukebox, playing Ricky Nelson’s “Hello Mary Lou”, over and over for her. “Hello, Mary Lou…Goodbye heart!” She continued to make him burgers and whatever else he wanted for 63 years.
On August 25, 1961, they were married at the First United Methodist Church in Prescott. Joe learned to finish drywall working for his oldest brother Hayden, Mary Louise made their AirStream trailer a home, and for the next several years they followed work around the Eastern US, growing in love for each other as they started their family.
In the summer of 1972, they moved back to Arkansas for good. They spent the next decades raising their children, tending cattle, ducks, and dogs, serving the Prescott Church of Christ, and making friends everywhere they went. Since becoming empty nesters in the early 90’s, Joe and Mary Louise have spent almost every minute of every day together. They are best friends, and enjoyed the most mundane things, like grocery shopping and yard work, as long as they were together. They loved Southern Gospel concerts – “singings” – and attended them often. Joe’s favorite part was always the bass singers, when they’d hit notes so low the walls rattled.
Joe would often tell Mary Louise that if she passed on first, he was getting into the casket with her. Only days before his passing, Joe told Mary that, after 63 years, he loved her more now than ever before. He told her not to cry if he passed, because he would see her again before she knew it. Joe Hansford Harris was a strong man with a soft heart, who loved his wife and his family fiercely and without reservation. The world was better with him in it, and we will all miss him dearly…but we will live out the remainder of our lives with the joy of knowing we will be together with him one day in heaven with Jesus, drinking Pepsi and calling the Hogs!
ALONG WITH MARY LOUISE, HIS WIFE OF 63 YEARS, JOE IS SURVIVED BY HIS:
Sister, Martha Harris Sisson, Brother-in-law, Johnny Shope & spouse Eva Jo Shope
Son, Rico Harris and spouse Atira Harris
Grandchildren: Tanner Harris & spouse Calli Harris, Chloe Harris, Sgt. Korbin Kuhn, US Army, Jay Harris, Tai Harris, Dekoda Harris, Fenix Harris, Apple Harris
Daughter, Rona Harris Simmons, & spouse Todd Simmons
Grandchildren: Alana Simmons & spouse, Jake “the Snake” Pooser, Nolan Simmons
Nephews and Nieces: Luckee Andrews Ralph Harris, Jr. Ronald Harris Debra Culpepper Andy Harris Jimmy Harris Harley Sisson, Jr. David Sisson Cindy Ford Keith Wilson Randall Wilson Misti Flowers
HE IS PRE-DECEASED BY:
His Parents: Grace and James Montgomery Harris, Sr.
Mary’s Parents: Anna Lou and Clarence Shope
His Sisters: Elizabeth Harris, Wilson Tinsley, Esther Harris Wilson
His Brothers: Hayden Harris, Ralph Harris, Paul Harris, John Harris, James “Chubby” Harris, Montgomery Harris Jr.
His Nephews and Nieces: Mike Harris, Jackie Wilson, Brenda Harris, Avance Jana Jones
Funeral service will be Thursday, October 3rd at 1:00pm at the Brazzel/Cornish Chapel with burial to follow at DeAnn Cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior to service.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brazzel/Cornish The Funeral Home of Hope. Online condolences can be made at www.brazzelfuneralhomes.com