Robert Carl Harris Jr

Mr. Robert Carl Harris, Jr., 87, resident of Snow Creek Road in the Williamsport Community, died Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at Maury Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10:00 a.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Brother Tom Holland officiating. Burial will follow in Delk Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 5 - 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The Maury County native was the son of the late Robert Carl Harris, Sr. and Lucille Carson Delk Harris. He was a 1944 graduate of Central High School. Mr. Harris was a lifelong farmer and very involved in the tobacco and equine industry. He was associated with the New Columbia Tobacco Warehouse for many years as floor manager, was a sales representative for W.E. Kingsley crop insurance and a regional distributor for Newton Tobacco Seed Company. He raised Tennessee Walking Horses and was a member of the Maury County Horseman's Association, the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association and was on the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Equine Council. He had raised many great show horses and had attended every Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration since 1939 when it started. He was also a current board member and long time voting delegate of the Maury County Farm Bureau and member of the Tennessee Cattleman's Association. Mr. Harris' farm was recognized by the Maury County Chamber of Commerce as a "Century Farm" having been in continuous production by the same family for over 100 years. He was the 4th generation on the family farm at Williamsport. He was one of the founders of the Farmers/Kiwanis Ham Breakfast and was honored in 2011 by the Kiwanis Club as a "Gold Star Farmer". He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed all types of hunting and fishing but especially turkey hunting. He had a love for singing and enjoyed gospel singings for much of his life. Mr. Harris had been a member and elder of the Arkland Church of Christ for many years and was currently a member of Greenfield Bend Church of Christ. Mr. Harris is survived by his wife of 64 years, Katherine Peery Harris who he married on August 27, 1949. In addition to his wife survivors include a daughter, Shelia Harris of Williamsport; son, Will (Nancy) Harris of Columbia; son-in-law, Neal Conner of Signal Mountain; and grandchildren, Dr. Chris Conner of Charleston, South Carolina, Spencer Conner of Memphis, Stephanie Harris and Laura Leigh Harris both of Columbia. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Oleita Harris Conner. Active pallbearers will be Daryl Brown, Ronnie King, Jimmy Morrow, Ronnie Mash, Dr. Chris Conner and Spencer Conner. Honorary pallbearers include Carl "Snooks" Kelley, Robert Bell, Eddie Delk, Harold Delk, Wayne Delk, Joe Delk, Charles Delk, Jimmy Mash, Raymond and Lucille Truette, Neal Conner, Jennie King and Steve Parks. The family suggests memorials to Columbia Academy, 1101 West 7th St., Columbia, TN 38401 or Delk Cemetery, c/o Eddie Delk, 216 Creek Trail, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com.