Richard Nathaniel Harris

passed away peacefully on October 10, 2019, at the age of 85 after a short illness,

surrounded by his loved ones.

Dick was born on August 2, 1934 in Morristown, New Jersey. His loving family will

cherish their memories of him; his wife of 62 years, Jo Ann Fleming Harris; 5

children, Stephen James Harris and wife Patsy; Keith William Harris and wife

Anne; Richard N. Harris II and wife Charo; Wendy Hymel and partner Jeff; and

Toni Jennings and husband Scott; 11 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and a

host of nieces, nephews, and good friends.

Dick was preceded in death by his father John Jackson Harris, his mother Evelyn

Messersmith Harris, his brother John Jackson Harris II, and his sister Barbara

Harris Crawford.

Dick graduated from Fortier High School in New Orleans and attended the

University of Texas at El Paso while based at Fort Bliss serving in the Army as an

instructor. He maintained a sixty year friendship with several of his Army buddies,

and enjoyed their annual reunions. While stationed there, he met and married

the love of his life, Jodie, and began his family, later settling in Metairie.

Dick and his father began their own tool and equipment business in 1959. This

fledgling tool business eventually became a major competitor in the field in the

greater New Orleans area. After his father’s retirement, Dick continued to grow

his successful business until he retired in December of 1999.

In addition to being a successful businessman, he was an avid sports fan, and for

years was a Saints and Tulane season ticket holder. One of his greatest joys was

being a member of the Tulane Boosters Club and attending their many functions.

He also enjoyed many Cubs games from the luxury of his recliner.

Dick was a true family man, generous to a fault, and relished every occasion to

spend time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Friends

were also a big part of his life – he had a natural ability to make friends with

anyone. He had a memory for detail and could converse on numerous topics

from “The Honeymooners” to his favorite opera, LaBoheme. He had a joke for

every subject, and told stories that spanned decades of family and national

history.

Dick was very active in his community and gave much of his time to service

organizations. He was a former president of the Lafreniere Lion’s Club and a

charter member, board member, and Elder Emeritus of the First Christian Church

of Greater New Orleans. In recent years, he served on the St. Charles Parish

Council of Aging and the St. Charles Hospital Patient Advisory Committee. Dick

volunteered at the St. Charles Hospital along with his wife, Jodie.

Dick and Jodie traveled whenever possible, not only to visit their children and

grandchildren, but to explore the world. After their last family vacation to

Tennessee, Dick spent a short time at Passages Hospice, before leaving the life he

loved so dearly.

A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church of Greater New Orleans,

8121 Airline Drive in Metairie, LA on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m.

The family thanks the staff at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, Ochsner

Hospital, and Passages Hospice for their attentive care to Dick during his illness.

As a military veteran, his ashes will be interred at Southeast Louisiana Military

Cemetery in Slidell at a later date.