Jimmie Harris

Jimmie D. Harris, 82, of Beach Park, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday, December 20, 2006 after a lengthy illness. Jimmie was born September 17, 1924 to James N. and Rosie Harris in Como, Texas, the third child of eleven. In May of 1943 he was drafted into the Army and served in L Co, 126 INF REG, 32nd Infantry Divison (Red Arrow). He served from 1943 to 1945 in various locations including Saidor, Aitape, New Guinea, Mortai, Netherlands East Indies Leyte, Luzon Phillippines, and Kyushu and Honshiu Japan. On September 17, 1946 he married Helen Norton in Seymour, Texas. Jimmie and Helen had four daughters, Vicki Harris (Don) Scanlon, Jimmie Darlene (Gary) Kaiser, the late Shelly Harris-Manning and Janice "Shorty" (Roger) Gregory. In 1957 Jimmie moved to Beach Park, Illinois and has resided there with his wife of 60 years. Jimmie worked and retired from American Motors in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He was a charter member of the VFW in Seymour, Texas and a lifetime member of the VFW of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge A.F. & A.M. and a Shriner with Medina Temple. Jimmie has five grandchildren, Cheri (Rick) Esperon, Kamron (Nicholas) Geiger, Jimmie Gregory, Crystal Gregory and Kevin (Kristi) Kaiser; three great-grandchildren Nicholas, Victoria and Reese; one brother Chuck Harris of Gurnee, Illinois; and two sisters Verna Ruth Shumaker of Winthrop Harbor, Illinois and Burley Richardson of Seymour, Texas. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 23, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. at the CONGDON FUNERAL HOME, 3012 Sheridan Road, Zion. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. Visitation will be Friday, December 22nd, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Congdon Funeral Home.