Myer Monk I Harris Jr.

Harris, Myer I. Jr (Monk), born May 18, 1923, went home to his Savior Jesus on October 21, 2012. He is preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and bride of 58 years, Mary Jane Estes Harris, and his beloved parents, Lillian Wood and Myer I Harris Sr. He is survived by his wife of 12 years, Marilyn Goss Harris, four children, 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. His sons are Thomas Harris and wife Cohnie, Robert Jack Harris Sr and wife Paula. His daughters are Diane York and her husband King, and Susan Seagroves. One grandchild, Angela Jones, preceded him in death earlier this year. The family wants to give special thanks to Monk’s caregivers—Margaret Santana, Wizzy Mangoma, and Rachel Smith. When Monk was three years old, he found a trombone his father had put up for him. He learned to sit in a chair and work the slide with his foot. At the age of five he learned to play the xylophone and was the feature at the opening of the well known Arcadia Theater in Dallas. Monk, with perfect pitch, picked up a musical saw at the age of 12 and won a national talent contest on the famous Major Bowe’s radio broadcast. The next week he was featured on the nationally known Paul Whiteman radio show. Monk was issued an invitation from the Juliard School of Music at the age of 14, but his mother encouraged him to stay in Dallas and finish school. When he turned 17, he joined the Joe Reichman Band. He then went on to play with some of the greats like Hal Macintyre, Claude Thornhill, Al Hirt, Johnny Scat Davis, and The Levee Players. He also had his own big band, the Myer Harris Orchestra. He served in the Army Air Corp band during World War 2. He was a custom home builder in Dallas and the Park Cities. He was a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and member of the orchestra at First Baptist Dallas. He was a generous, loving, kindhearted, and faithful servant of the Lord. A visitation will be held at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home on Thursday, October 25, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. A Graveside Service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park on Friday, October 26 at 1:00 p.m., with a Memorial Service to follow at First Baptist Church of Dallas at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Monk Harris Endowed Scholarship for Music Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary 877-467-9287. For more information, please visit www.sparkman-hillcrest.com.