James “Ed” Harris, 86 of Drexel, Missouri passed away on
September 19th, 2026. A
visitation will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at
Mullinax Funeral Home, Drexel (816-657-4400).
Funeral services will follow on Saturday at 2:00 pm, also at the funeral
home with burial in Sharon Cemetery, Drexel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Drexel School Foundation. Messages of condolence may be left for family
and friends at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com.
Ed was born in Amsterdam, New York on August 4th,
1940 to Chester Clay and Frances Bolling Harris. The Harris family moved to
Drexel when he was 14 months old. He
grew up with two older sisters and one brother He was often spoiled rotten by his
sister Lucille and often had great sibling fights with his other sister Renee.
This however did not keep them from all being close and getting together every
chance they could. Getting together often meant an aggressive game of Wahoo,
where Lucille and Ed would whip up on you.
Ed could roll six’s back-to-back, often being accused of having loaded the
dice. Ed grew up in Drexel and graduated from Drexel High School in 1955. He was drafted into the US Army in May of
1963, and stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, where he was discharged with a
honorable medical discharge. Ed never
classified himself as a veteran because he felt like he didn’t serve his
country to the level that others had. He
said others gave their life and you can’t compare that to what I did.
Ed worked at a glass company and shortly after almost
cutting off his fingers, and standing up Kay for their first date, he was
united in marriage to Katherine Louise Cummins on September 24th
1965. They made their long-term home in
Drexel where they raised two children, Jim and Sheryl. Ed spent many years at the Drexel Elevator
going through three ownerships. He drove
a bulk truck and semi-truck for the majority of those years. Ed retired in 2013
from the elevator after making long-term friendships with many people along the
way.
Ed was blessed with five grandsons, Stephan Ogden,
Christopher Harris, Ethan Harris, Andrew Gilbert, and Adam Gilbert. He received an extra blessing when he was
blessed with three great-granddaughters; Brylynn, Maelynn and Blakely.
Ed was proceeded in death by his wife Kay Harris, parents;
Chester and Frances Harris, and his brother Windy Harris.
He is survived by his son Jim Harris, daughter Sheryl
(Darrell) Gilbert, sisters, Dorothy “Lucille” Tucker, Renee Cooper, and
sisters-in-law Rosalee Demott and Sue (Rick) Neubauerand along with grandsons;
Stephan Ogden, Andrew (Britney) Gilbert, Christiopher Harris, Adam (Makenna)
Gilbert, Ethan Harris. As well as his great-granddaughters; Brylynn, Maelynn
and Blakely and many nieces and nephews that he adored.
