Tobe was born on March 3, 1932 in Cut and Shoot, Texas. His life was an adventure from the start. As a toddler, he was kicked in the head by a horse and miraculously survived. As a teenager, he spent the night in a willow tree hunting a 14-foot alligator that he successfully caught. Those experiences just toughened him up to take blows in the boxing ring where he received the nickname Barefoot Boy from Cut and Shoot. The adventure continued throughout his adult life when he chose to travel the world as a Merchant Marine. When stateside, he enjoyed many years in rural Arkansas near his momma and daddy where he would make, what seemed like, an unending supply of blackberry jam. The most recent chapter of his life took on a much slower pace surrounded by family, in the home of his daughter, Linda Sue, where his quick wit entertained his grandkids and he never missed an opportunity to tell all the girls what beauties they were. These years have been chronicled by his grandson, Michael Wilburn as the “Tobe and Mike Show” with this final entry:
Tobe and Mike Show 12-2-2020. The star of my show, Ove Wooten (Tobe) Harris has passed. So, there will be a little delay in broadcasting until I can meet up with him again in heaven. I shed few tears because he is home with his mom, dad and sister, Patsy. As well as the friends and family that went before him. I am blessed to have had almost 47 years with him. He will live with me forever in my heart.
Tobe had a saying for everything and in this moment, he would say, “If health was something money could buy, the rich would live always and only the poor would die, but the wealthiest of men with all their riches die the same as the poor sons…” The saying ended with many rhyming variations depending on his audience.
Tobe is survived by his daughters, Linda Sue Holloway of Magnolia, Lida Page and husband Mark Page of Pasadena, Dottie Harris of Cape Coral, FL, Lauri Harris of Cape Coral, FL, Sarah Snider of Pasadena, and his sons, Andy Harris of Cut and Shoot, James White, and John Snider; his sisters, Helen Harris of Washington State, Frances Harris Lane of Willis, Wynne Harris of Conroe; brothers Roy Harris Sr. of Cut and Shoot, Henry Harris Jr. and wife Sandra of Huntsville, James Harris and wife Denise of Cut and Shoot; approximately 20 grandchildren, 35 great-grandchildren and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Gladys Harris of Cut and Shoot; sister, Patsy Ann Harris; brother, Frank Harris; and son, Matthew Harris.
A graveside service and interment will be held Saturday, December 12, 2020 at 10:00 AM at Whispering Pines Cemetery.
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