Jim L. Harris, Sr., of Muskogee, died Monday, August 4, 2008 at Jack C. Montgomery VA Medical Center. He was born August 1, 1922 to Arthur and Mae Belle (Richardson) Harris in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a youth, Jim moved to Muskogee with his family. He graduated from Oktaha High School.Jim entered the U.S. Navy on April 9, 1942 and served during World War II on the USS Prometheus. His ship departed from San Francisco on August 9, 1942 headed for the Hawaiian Islands. From there he traveled extensively throughout the Pacific to Guadalcanal, crossed the Equator and International Dateline, New Caledonia, Philippines, Midway Island and Australia. While in the United States he was stationed in San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, and Norfolk, Virginia. Jim received the American Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He was a member of the 1000 Club for serving 1000 days on the USS Prometheus and a member of the Ancient Order of the Deep for crossing the Equator. Jim was honorably discharged on November 16, 1945.On June 23, 1946, he married Erline Highers at Central Church of Christ in Muskogee. Jim worked for American Airlines in the late 1940's before going to work at United Neon Sign Co. In 1958 Jim founded Harris Sign Company in Muskogee. He owned and operated his sign company until the end of 2007.Jim was an ordained minister and preached at Webbers Falls, Braggs, Oktaha, and Porum in the 1960's. He was a charter member of Chandler Road Church of Christ. Mr. Harris was also a longtime member of Muskogee Masonic Lodge and Bedouin Shrine Temple.He loved OU football and liked to fish and hunt. He coached baseball when his son was young and spent a great deal of time with his grandchildren. He and Erline owned Harris Gift Shop from 1971 to 1981.Jim was preceded in death by one sister, Helen Noteware and one brother, John Harris. He is survived by his wife, Erline of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Benita and Mike Higbee of Guthrie; son, Jim Harris, Jr. of Muskogee; five grandchildren, Skye Fried and her husband, Mark, of Norman, Collin Higbee of Oregon, Zack Higbee and his wife, Jodi, of Florida, Jimmie Harris, III of Muskogee; and Holly Stern and her husband, Bill, of Muskogee; four great-grandchildren, Ruby Fried, Sean Harris, Lucas Harris and Ryan Harris; brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe and Francis Harris of Oktaha and Jay and Lucille Harris of Grand Prairie, TX and several nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 8, 2008 at Chandler Road Church of Christ with Mr. Harry Fitzgerald officiating. Interment will follow in Ft. Gibson National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Collin Higbee, Jimmie Harris, III, Skye Fried, Bill Stern, Holly Stern and Darren Kilpatrick. Honorary pallbearers are J. P. Branch, Ira Boss, Gene Hailey, Gerald Tackett, Lloyd Kilpatrick and Richard Branum. Funeral service arrangements are under the direction of Foster-Petering Funeral Home.