Richard “Dale” Harris

Funeral services for Richard Dale Harris, 83, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 4, 2016 at Central Church of Christ, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Harris passed away at 5:39 p.m., Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at Ozarks Medical Center.

He was born October 15, 1933, in Ozark County, Missouri, to Fred Harris and Nancy Elizabeth “Lizzie” Taylor Harris.  On February 22, 1957, he was married at West Plains, Missouri, to Hazel Faye Bell Harris, who preceded him in death on October 27, 2013, after fifty-six years of marriage.  He graduated from Bakersfield High School with the Class of 1952; in 1954, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Korea as a lineman for one and a half years after which he served as a reservist until 1962.  Once he completed active duty, he began his career as a lineman with Contel phone company and retired as a central office equipment repairman with GTE phone company after thirty-five years of service.  Mr. Harris was a dedicated member of Central Church of Christ, where he served as an Elder for many years.  Dale enjoyed fishing and watching all sporting events; his true passion was enjoying his grandchildren.

He is survived by five children, Laura Harris, Columbia, Missouri, Rick Harris, West Plains, Pamela Harris, Columbia, Missouri, Catherine Caetano, West Plains and Lisa Olson and husband, Jake, West Plains; four grandchildren, Brittany Hoover, Amanda Caetano, Jacob Olson and Thomas Olson; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, wife and four siblings, Guy Harris, Mazzie “Aileen” Williams, James Harris and Ada Rhoads, precede him in death.

Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to Paragould Children’s Home and may be left at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.