Jackie Wayne Harris

Graveside services for Jackie Wayne Harris, 83, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Howell Memorial Park Cemetery, under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.    

Jack passed away Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at his home.  

Jack was born April 15, 1940, in West Plains, Missouri, to Earl Morrison Harris and Myrtle Moser Harris.  After a long career in agribusiness finance in St. Louis and Des Moines, Jack returned to West Plains to live out his retirement. Jack enjoyed keeping up with his childhood friends and organizing gatherings of his beloved Zizzers (Class of 1958).  For decades, he reached out regularly to his classmates to assemble updates for newsletters, and he loved to arrange class reunions.  Well into their later years, Jack held frequent breakfasts at the Ozark Cafe with his closest friends — known affectionately amongst themselves as the “Howell County Studs.” Jack enjoyed life on his farm with his many animals, and could be seen riding his Gator around to check in on his cows.  He loved to cook, especially southern classics; according to those who have tried it, he made the world’s best chicken and dumplings.  Jack was an unfailingly loving and supportive father, he adored his grandkids, and he was deeply devoted to his many, many cats. He is survived by his two children, Meredith (husband Shawn) and Allison (husband Matthew), and five grandchildren. 

His parents, two brothers, Earl (“Pork”) Harris and Calvin (“Droop”) Harris, and one sister, Nadine Armstrong, preceded him in death.  

Visitation services will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 11, 2023, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to any charity of choice and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO  65775.