D.B. Harris

ORAN, Mo. -- D.B. Harris, 89, of Oran died Wednesday, March 31, 2010, at Crystal Oaks Nursing Center in Crystal City, Mo.

He was born Aug. 8, 1920, in Okolona, Ark., son of R.L. and Ruth Hughes Harris. He and Frances E. Anderson were married May 6, 1949.

He graduated from Lilbourn, Mo., High School. He worked on the family farm in Arkansas before enrolling at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he received a bachelor of science degree in agricultural education.

Harris was a member of Mystical Seven, president of Alpha Gamma Rho, and worked for the university. He opened the Vo-Ag Department at Matthews, Mo., in 1948 and was there until 1953, when he moved to Oran to start the Vo-Ag Department there, retiring in 1978.

He was a 30-year member of the state of Missouri Agriculture Association, where he served as secretary, treasurer, vice president and president. He was chosen to be a delegate at national meetings in Los Angeles, Miami and Denver. He received the Distinguished Service Award and Honorary State Farmer Award.

After he retired from teaching he worked part time for Underwriters Laboratory. He attended Oran First Baptist Church.

Survivors include three daughters, Karen Reecht of Crystal City, Ruth Harris-Flores of El Paso, Texas, Barbara Infante of Blairsville, Ga.; a son, Jim Harris of Columbia; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife in 2005 and a granddaughter in 2007.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Oran First Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ed Carter officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens at Morley, Mo.