Birth: October 26, 1929
Death: January 20, 2014
J.H. “Sonny” Harris passed away in Denton, Texas on January 20, 2014 at the age of 84.
Sonny is survived by his loving companion Ernestine Bolin, daughter Sunny Suzanne Whitsell, 8 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Harold “Bud” Harris and his mother Odyne (Coffey) Harris.
Sonny was born in McKinney, Texas on October 26, 1929. He graduated from Prosper High School and attended the University of North Texas.
Sonny worked with his father, Bud, as contractors in Frisco, Prosper, and McKinney. He was part of the construction leadership for the City of Arlington that completed projects including the conversion of the minor league Turnpike Stadium into Arlington Stadium, the first home of the Texas Rangers. Impressed by his work in Arlington, executives representing Lamar Hunt offered Sonny an opportunity to build a new amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri in 1973. Sonny spent 24 years at Worlds of Fun/ Oceans of Fun, retiring as Director of Maintenance and Construction.
Sonny was a member of the Lebanon #837 Masonic Lodge, and was Grand Master in 1955 and 1956. He was a Scottish rite Mason for 58 years.
The visitation will be held at the Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home, 602 S. Lindsay St. Gainesville, Texas on Thursday, January 23, 2014 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Little Elm Cemetery in Little Elm, Texas on Friday, January 24, 2014, with David Cervenka officiating.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.com