A memorial service for Jeffrey Neil Harris, 57, of Glendale, Arizona and formerly of Nacogdoches will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, at 11:00 am at Laird Funeral Home with Rev. C.B. Yarborough officiating.
Jeffrey Neal Harris
Jeff was born in Lufkin, Texas on November 22, 1959. He grew up in Nacogdoches and attended the public schools through graduation at NHS in 1978. He played baseball and football in high school and was a member of the NHS Band, where he played the tenor saxaphone. He started his music career in the sixth grade. While in Junior High School, he performed with his football team and then would change clothes at half-time to march with the band. Afterwards he would change back to his football uniform.
He spent three years at STA and was amember of the Stage Band, playing his Selmer-Six, Mark II Tenor Sax. After leaving college, he began a career in music, performing with small bands in the area. His love of Jazz music was real, but he adapted to all types in later years. Whether he was playing a small gig, or with some well known artists, he was in paradise playing his horn. In later years he also learned to play the flute and keyboards. He filled his rather short life on this earth with his true love, music.
Jeff is survived by his parents, Furman and Carolyn Hamilton Harris of Nacogdoches; a sister, Lynn Harris Cooper and husband, Joe Pat of Lufkin; two brothers, Brent Harris and wife, Karen Kendrick Harris of Nacogdoches and Eric “Rusty” Harris of Nacogdoches; his aunts, Helen Harris Payne of Las Vegas, NV, Katie Harris Wray of San Antonio, Texas, Mavis Harris Robertson of Lufkin, Texas and Bobbye Harris Wukasch of Silver Hills, Alabama; one uncle, Tommy Hamilton and wife, Charlotte of Nacogdoches, Texas and their two daughters, Nikki Strahan of Nacogdoches, Texas and Pam Bulls of Buffalo, Texas; three nieces, Jocelyn “Josie” Harrison of Austin, Texas, Allyson “Ally” Harris of Nacogdoches, Texas and Madison “Maddy” Harris of Nacogdoches, Texas; two nephews, Tyler Cooper of Lufkin, Texas and Austin “Slade” Harris of Nacogdoches, Texas; special friends, Lonnie Harris of Nacogdoches, Texas and Don Herman of Glendale, Arizona; as well as a host of cousins and other extended family, friends and aquiantances.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herman M. and Vallie Lucas Harris and Robert B. and Madgie Birdwell Hamilton.
May the Sadness of Jeff’s death be overcome by the celebration of his life. (Mom and Dad)
In lieu of flowers contributions of memory my be made to, Hospice of the Valley, 1510 East Flower St, Phoenix, Arizona 85014 or to the NHS Band Boosters Club at Nacogdoches High School.
OMG. Jeff was my dear friend and brother in life who came up missing around 2005. I tried for years to find him and Yesterday July 28 2012 I was speaking of him to my girlfriend as she was on her computer and she found this news of my friend being past away. I simply broke down with tears flowing as my heart broke in half. I can’t believe my brother is gone. Jeff was my Sax player in my band in East Texas ate the World Famous, Reo Palm Isle in Longview Texas for many years. We shared our friendship on the stage for over 800 shows and off stage as me best and dear friend in every way, I can’t believe that knowone had contacted me with this so sad of news, Myself and many of our friends searched and searched trying to find him over the years as did his family. I can’t say with words how I feel today fing out that my friend died this past August 29Th 2011 and I never new . OMG Jeffrey, I missed you so much over the years in search of you my dear friend and brother in life. I am having so hard of a time realizing you are gone forever. Your were my friend, my band mate, and I am hurting so deeply knowing I wasn’t there by your side as you faded from this world to the next. It’s going to take a while for me to get through this news of you being gone and never to hear you playing your saxophone by my side the way you did so many time. You stood by my side on stage so many time in front of so many thousands of people playing your sax bring such beautiful sound waves of joy to so many. I love you my dear friend and brother and I just don’t know how to deal with your being gone and knowing I never see you face again. I miss you ao much and my tears are going to flow for you forever brother. You will always be in my heart…Greg Cardenas