Joe W. Harris

Joe W. Harris, age 73, died December 27, 2011, at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. Born January 25, 1938 at El Dorado, Arkansas, Joe was the only child of the late Felix Harris and Miriam Sanders Harris. Joe was a graduate of El Dorado High School. He received a B.S.E. degree from Henderson State Teachers College (now H.S.U.) and was a former math teacher and coach at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He had owned and operated the Ice House at Sheridan for several years. Joe was a retired timber and cotton farmer. He married Mary Lou Wilkerson at Sheridan on December 26, 1958. Joe was a member of The First United Methodist Church at Sheridan. In 2000, Joe was selected as the "Arkansas Tree Farmer of the Year" by the Arkansas Forestry Association based on his expertise and production of his tree farm in Union County. He had served as President of the Grant County Forest Landowners Association and as President of the Grant County Farm Bureau. Joe had served as chairman of the Arkansas Forestry Advisory Committee and the Arkansas State Forestry Action Committee. He had been chairman of the Sheridan Water Committee for twenty years and was also on the Grant County Equalization Board. Joe is survived by his wife, Mary Lou Wilkerson Harris and two daughters; Valerie Harris Shepherd and her husband Robert Shepherd and Stephanie Harris Smith, all of Sheridan. Also surviving Joe are five grandchildren; Eric Shepherd, Lindsey Shepherd, Nick Shepherd, Griffin Smith and Rachel Smith all of Sheridan. A special cousin, Jamie Shell Williams of Hot Springs also survives him. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, December 30, 2011 at The First United Methodist Church in Sheridan with Rev. John Fleming officiating. Burial will follow at Lost Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Arrangements by Memorial Gardens Funeral Home of Sheridan (870) 942-1306. To sign the online guestbook, www.memorialgardenssheridan.com.