Gerald L. Harris

Gerald Lee Harris passed on Saturday October 19, 2024, at the age of 96 surrounded by his loved ones at his beloved home on Leatherwood Road. Graveside service will be at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Trinity Memorial Park.

Gerald was born in Big Spring, TX on September 27, 1928, to Lola Mae Echols Harris and Benjamin Pinkney Harris. He grew up in Jones Valley a place he dearly loved all his life. Gerald attended Big Spring schools, graduating from Big Spring High School in 1946, the old Runnels building he and his wife Ramona fought to keep from being torn down. He was an outstanding athlete lettering in football and track.

After graduation he turned down college football scholarships to go to work with his father.  It was during this time his courtship began with the love of his life, Ramona Mae Weaver also from Big Spring. They married on November 23, 1949, and had four children, Lee and wife Laurie, Clay and wife Mickie, Leslie Harris Williams, and Matthew Harris. Ramona preceded Gerald in death in November 2020 after 70 years of marriage.

Gerald worked for his father after graduation, then he owned and operated Harris and Lusk Service Station with his brother-in-law, Earl Lusk for many years. Early in his life Gerald started buying and selling used cars, a tradition passed on to all his sons. Gerald also started buying and remodeling rental property and enjoyed doing most of the work on the properties himself.  He truly loved to work, and he instilled his work ethic in all his children.

Gerald was an exceptional man… A loving husband, a wonderful father and grandfather and a friend to many. His love and interest for his family, friends, and Big Spring was enormous. His ability to recall people, places and occurrences in Big Spring was extraordinary. He could remember everything and everyone and was interested in everyone and everything up until his death. He always had a beautiful smile and a kind word for those he met.

Gerald loved the Big Bend, Alpine, Ft Davis and Marfa area. In the 1960s, it was a tradition for Gerald to take his sons and nephews to the Ft Davis State Park and camp out. The boys thoroughly enjoyed this trip. The boys would bring their bikes, swim, ride horses, and hike.  Gerald loved to play golf especially with Ramona. They traveled all around Texas and New Mexico playing in couple’s golf tournaments.

Gerald is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, several nieces, and nephews, two sisters in laws Sonia Lusk and Mary Jane Phillips and one brother-in-law Marcellus “Boosie” Weaver.

He was preceded in his death by his loving wife Ramona, his parents, sister Bobbie Medley, brother Andrew Harris, infant great grandson Gerald Lee Harris IV, and two nephews and one niece.

As this Big Spring legend is laid to rest, we smile and remember the song he sang every night, “turn out the lights, the party’s over Gerald Lee”.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory.  Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com

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