S. Harris

Services for S. Rex Harris, 70, Walton, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Gundrum Funeral Home.

He died at 6:35 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2009, in Miller’s Merry Manor in Logansport.

Born Nov. 20, 1938, in Smithville, Tenn., DeKalb County, he was the son of Thomas Walter and Odell Parsley Harris. He was married Feb. 14, 1960, in Camden, to Jean Sprinkle, who survives.

Rex was a member of the Lutheran Church. He was a 1957 graduate of Logansport High School. While in high school, he participated in track, basketball and football. In basketball he was voted most valuable player his senior year and was all state in football. He attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where he participated on the football team.

From 1960-1966 he served as a deputy on the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, and in 1966 he was elected sheriff, making him the youngest sheriff ever elected in county history. From 1967-1974 Rex served as Ssheriff and he and his family lived in the sheriff’s residence at the county jail and his wife Jean served as jail matron. From 1974 until 2005 Rex had been an insurance agent with Farm Bureau Insurance. From 1986-1993 Rex served as chairman of the Cass County Democratic Party and had also served on the election board. From 2002- present, Rex served on the board of directors of France Park and Recreation. From 2002- present, Rex served on the board of directors of the Logansport Memorial Hospital. In December of 2002 Rex received the John Tipton Award, which is the highest award presented by the county.

Rex was a former youth league baseball and football coach, he was also a former adult 4-H Leader of the Horse and Pony Club. He was a member of the Logansport Exchange Club, Eagles Lodge 323 and Elks Lodge 66. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, sports, politics, riding horses and helping others.

He participated in local community events with his draft mules and horses in such parades as the Iron Horse parade, Light Up Logansport parade, Royal Center’s Pioneer Days parade, Twelve Mile’s Fourth of July Celebration parade, Galveston Day’s parade, Walton’s Small Town Christmas parade, Delphi’s Canal Days parade, and Kokomo’s Haynes Apperson Festival parade. He provided wagon and buggy rides for weddings, family reunions, and other events. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, telling stories and reminiscing.

Also surviving are daughter, Kellie Whitcomb, Logansport; son, Jeffrey Harris and wife Dawn, Dublin, Ohio; sisters, Jerry Zoubul, Indianapolis, Judy Frame and husband John, Fort Worth, Texas, and Nancy Samuels and husband Norman, Logansport; brothers, Bruce Harris and wife Dee, Logansport, Harold Harris and wife Elsie, Adamsboro, Ralph Harris, Illinois, Grant Harris and wife Cinda, Fort Wayne, Steve Harris and wife Sue, and Ted Shriver, all of Logansport; granddaughter, Megan Whitcomb; and grandsons, Arrick Harris and Alax Harris.

He was preceded in death by two sisters, Fredia Couch and Frankie Seehase.

Pastor Sharon Walker will officiate. Burial will be in Walton IOOF Cemetery in Walton.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Glaucoma Association.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.gundrumfuneralhome.com.

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