Polk Harris, Sr.

Polk Harris, Sr. was the second of eight children born September 12, 1927 to William Arthur Harris and Rebecca Nivens Harris in Richmond, Arkansas.  Polk attended school up to the ninth grade.

If you knew Polk or had an opportunity to spend some time with him, you would know that he cared about his family.  He never liked being in the limelight but if you ever needed his help he would definitely come to your aid.

Some of Polk’s favorite things to do were to make people laugh.  He enjoyed telling jokes and watching the reaction of those who heard it.  He also enjoyed listening to recordings of the “Blues”.  Often times he would play some of his favorite blues songs on his harmonica.

At age twenty-four Polk visited his brother, Arthur of Kansas City, Missouri.  He lived with Arthur and his wife Maxine long enough to meet Ida B. McNeal.  It was love at first sight.  Shortly after they got married and to this union three children were born.

Polk leaves to cherish his memory; three children, Jeannie M. Tyler, Dorris H. Drummer, and Polk Harris, Jr.; eleven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren, all from St. Louis, Missouri; three sisters, Ruby Lee Vann of Reno, Nevada, Osrine Johnson of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Thelma Toles of Boston, Massachusetts; one sister-in-law, Maxine Harris of Kansas City, Missouri; and a host of nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, neighbors and friends.

Polk will lie in state from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm on Thursday at the Ninde Brookside Funeral Home, with family receiving friends from 5:00 -- 7:00 pm and a graveside service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday at Rolling Oaks Memorial Gardens, 4300 E 91st Street, Tulsa, OK.