John Lee Harris Sr. was a hardworking man who took many jobs tosupport his family.
He spent 25 years at U.S. Steel and 17 years at the Swiss meat-packing plant in Chicago. He also was a mail carrier and an IllinoisState Police trooper. He retired in 1983.
Mr. Harris died Nov. 26 at St. Margaret Hospital in Hammond, Ind.,after a long illness. He was 79.
"He was a jovial person," said Portia Harris, his wife of 31years. "He was always kidding with the children, calling them by hispet name, `Turkey.' One of his favorite greetings was, `When are yougoing to Mississippi?' "
Stella Foster, the assistant to Chicago Sun-Times columnist IrvKupcinet, said she will "dearly miss" Mr. Harris. "He was the last ofmy uncles," she said. "He was a very special person. His humor couldmake you laugh, even if you were sad."
Mr. Harris, the oldest of four children, was born in Silver City,Miss.
The family moved to Chicago when Mr. Harris was a teenager. Hecompleted his high school education, and at 18 he was drafted intothe Navy during World War II. He received an honorable discharge.
In 1968, Mr. Harris married Portia Johnson, daughter of radio andtelevision gospel personality Isabel Joseph-Johnson. "We shared ajoyful and loving relationship," his wife said.
He was the father of six.
Mr. Harris enjoyed fishing on Chicago's Lake Michigan shore, andhe would return to Mississippi and fish at Silver City. He also likedbowling.
Other survivors include sons Roosevelt II, Wilbur and John HarrisJr., daughters Isadore, Porald and Kylah, grandchildren Naree andAdel, sister Mamie Lee Foster, nieces Jamie Foster Brown, ShirleyFoster Hunter and Linda Ruth Harris and nephews Lee Williams Jr. andKenneth Williams.
A wake will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Emmanuel BaptistChurch, 8301 S. Damen. The funeral will begin at 8 p.m. Burial willbe at 9 a.m. Saturday in Lincoln Cemetery, 11900 S. Kedzie, BlueIsland.
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