James Eugene Harris

James Eugene (Gene) Harris, 90, of Red Bank, died peacefully on Feb. 4, 2021. A loving and generous son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and friend, he was affectionately he called “PapPaw” by his granddaughters and many others. A life-long Chattanoogan, he was born Oct. 9, 1930, attended Jefferson Street Elementary School, East Side Junior High and was a 1948 graduate of Central High School. He worked 42 years at the Chattanooga DuPont plant in Textile Maintenance, Beaming and the Lock/Key Shop. He had previously worked for Western Union, a newspaper delivery boy, Sears & Roebuck and a local machine shop. He co-owned Mountain View Ceramic Center for 45 years with his wife. He loved Jesus and his family and especially enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters. He took them on numerous vacations and antique sales. Gene had been an active member of White Oak United Methodist Church for 60+ years and the Highlander Sunday School Class. His favorite hobbies were antiquing and traveling. He was active with Scenic City Friends, Chattanooga Historical Society, Friends of the Library, Civil War Roundtable, Camp Ocoee Board of Directors, Chattanooga Half-Century Club and YMCA Heritage Club. YMCA’s Camp Ocoee was his favorite place on Earth. He started attending Camp Ocoee in the late 1930’s through Kiwanis Club scholarships. He continued to generously support Camp Ocoee all his life with in-kind services and donations. He proudly served on the Camp Ocoee Board of Directors. Over the last 40 years, he never missed Ocoee Family Camp every Labor Day weekend. Gene was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Jimmie; his parents, James Walter Harris Jr. and Ollie Torbet Walker; brother, Edwin Harris and sister, Elizabeth Hinton. He is survived by two sons, David Harris and Don (Patti) Harris, both of Chattanooga; two granddaughters, Amanda Harris of Decatur, GA, and Allison (Carter) Allen of Chattanooga; sisters Emily Walston, Elsie Kinley and Marjorie Cronin, all of Chattanooga; dear friend, Francis “Cricket” Patterson of Fort Oglethorpe, several nieces, nephews and cousins. The family will receive friends Monday, Feb. 8, from 5-8 p.m. at Lane Funeral Home on Ashland Terrace. Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9, at Lane Funeral Home Coulter chapel with Rev. Amy Nutt officiating. Interment follows at 2 p.m. at Chattanooga Memorial Park in White Oak. Pallbearers will be Carter Allen, Zac Pailet, Lavon Pickle, Mark Shackleford, B.J. Davis, Lamar Lynch and John Freeman. Honorary Pallbearers are Latta Johnston, David Mays and Sylvia Sherrill. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to YMCA Camp Ocoee Scholarship Fund, 111 YMCA Dr.; Ocoee, TN 37361. Arrangements entrusted to Lane Funeral hom 601 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415 (423)877-3524 www.lanefh.com