Obituary: Franklin Augustus (Gus) Harris, Jr

Franklin Augustus (Gus) Harris, Jr., 77, of Orange, passed away on Oct. 18, 2021, in Beaumont.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, at Faith United Methodist Church in Orange. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Orange, Texas, on April 7, 1944, Gus was the son of Franklin Harris, Sr. and Katye Mae (Smith) Harris. From a young age, Gus was a member of the Orange County Sheriff Posse. He married Sue, whom he met on a blind date, and together they built a beautiful life full of service and compassion for 53 wonderful years. Gus faithfully served his Lord as an active member of Faith United Methodist Church. He graduated from Lutcher Stark High School in 1962 and Texas A&M in 1966 with a degree is Mechanical Engineering.

Gus began his successful career as an engineer at DuPont, in which he would remain for close to 40 years before retiring. In addition to his hard work at DuPont he served on the Board of Spindletop, formally MHMR, for over 40 years. He also served on the Texas Council Risk Management Fund. Upon his retirement from DuPont, Gus went to work for the Nelda C. & H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, acting as the liaison between the Stark Foundation and the contractors that would build a community-favorite attraction, known to many as Shangri La. He served as Chief Properties Officer for the Stark Foundation, which would play an instrumental role in Orange community’s growth. Among his many ventures and services, farming with his brother, Dan, held a special place in his heart. Together they owned and operated Harris Farms and Farmer’s Mercantile.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Sr. and Katye Mae Harris; and grandparents, Franklin Augustus Harris, Esther Ruth Hilliard Harris, Columbus Lee Smith, and Mattie May Richards Smith. Gus is survived by wife, Sue Harris; sons, Franklin Lee Harris and his wife Jamia Harris and Scott Alan Harris; grandchildren, Carl Benjamin Harris, John Carson Harris and William Franklin Harris, brother, Dan Harris, Jr. and his wife Lue Harris and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church at PO BOX 494 Orange, Texas, 77631 or the Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets Association. Please make checks payable to the CCA, write in memory of Gus Harris ’66 in the memo, and mail to CCA, 1134 Finfeather Rd., Bryan, Texas, 77803 or go online to: Corpsofcadets.org/memory.