Wesley Harris

ORAN, Mo. -- Wesley Dean Harris, 80, lifelong resident of Oran, went to be with the Lord. He passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 3, 1934, in Oran, son of John Melton and Helen Wright Harris. He and Barbara Louise Gateley were married Feb. 25, 1955, at Oran First Baptist Church. They were looking forward to celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary next month.

Wesley was a 1953 graduate of Oran High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1957 and was stationed in Germany with the 4th Armored Division as a radio relay operator.

He became a member of Oran First Baptist Church by baptism Aug. 1, 1949. He was also a member of Oran Lions Club.

Wesley was an electrician with IBEW Local 1 60 years. His hobbies included fishing, hunting and watching sports. He loved his men's Sunday school class and spending the winter in Florida, where he enjoyed being by the ocean and deep sea fishing. Wesley supported his grandchildren in all their activities. His most recent joy was the births of three great-grandchildren, Tate Joshua and Landree Michelle Diebold, and Hudson James O'Hare. He was also very excited about the upcoming birth of another great-grandson in March.

Loving survivors include his wife, Barbara Gateley Harris of the home; two daughters, Niki (David) Hamm of Benton, Missouri, and Robin (Mark) Hill of Gordonville; three grandchildren, Candice (Eric) O'Hare of Jackson, Carmen (Josh) Diebold of Gordonville and Zach (Sara) Hamm of Huntsville, Alabama; and a brother, Glen Harris of Oran.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Oran.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens near Morley, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Oran First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 461, Oran, MO 63771.

Online condolences may be made at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.