Richard "Butch" Harris

Richard “Butch” Harris Richard “Butch” Harris, 71, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 as a result of a brief illness, surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 8, 1943 in Waelder, Texas to Joel Maurice and Josephine Harris, Butch was raised in Chesterville, Texas outside of Eagle Lake. He told many stories of working in the rice fields, running with his friends and spending countless days with his grandparents in Waelder. He graduated from Eagle Lake High School in May 1961. The following December, he began working at HL&P in the Rosenberg Service Center. Throughout the 42 years of service he made numerous friends from Rosenberg, Sugar Land and Wharton. On March 1, 2003 Butch retired as a foreman with Centerpoint Energy. On March 7, 1964 Butch married Catherine Hanzelka of Hungerford. Over the years Butch and Cat raised three children and enjoyed their loving grandchildren and great grandson. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In his early years Butch never missed his children’s’ games and events. They could hear his whistle above all the chaos. He enjoyed coaching his son’s Peewee Raisers baseball team and Little League Cardinals in Wharton. Other pastimes included hunting, fishing and even shrimping with his friends. To his family Butch was better known as “Poppy”. Many weekends and vacations were spent burning the roads between Waelder, Matagorda and his grandchildren’s’ activities. His “HEP” Ranch in Waelder was his personal paradise. He loved tending to his cattle, riding the dirt roads playing old country music, hunting with his family and just sitting and watching the sun go down. In addition to his parents, his brother Joe Glen, his in-laws Edwin and Mary Hanzelka, and great-niece Sara Krauss preceded Butch in death. Butch is survived by his wife, Catherine, of 50 years: son Kevin Harris and wife Stephanie of Bay City; daughter Diana Prihoda and husband Kenny of Richmond; daughter Dana Ezell and husband James of Wharton. Grandchildren Dillon, Nicholas, and Erica Harris, Derek Crose and wife Ashley, Megan Pyle and husband Cameron, Tyler and Tanner Prihoda; Allison and Thomas Ezell; great grandson Colton Pyle; step granddaughter Cameron Ero. Brother Sonny Harris and wife Mary of Richmond; sister Ann Hanzelka and husband Willie of Sheridan; sister-in-law Gladys Laxton and husband Dick of Rosenberg: brother-in-law Edwin Hanzelka Jr. and wife Shirley of Rosenberg: along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family. Serving as pallbearers are Dillon Harris, Nicholas Harris, Tyler Prihoda, Tanner Prihoda, Thomas Ezell, Cameron Pyle, Jeffrey Orsak, Frankie Chapa, Erica Harris, Megan Pyle, Colton Pyle, Allison Ezell, and Cameron Ero. Honorary Pallbearers are Duaine Lowstetter, Ed Orsak, Jerome Labay and all HL&P, Reliant and Centerpoint friends. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 26th from 5-9 p.m with at Rosary at 7 p.m. at Wharton Funeral Home, 515 E. Boling Hwy, Wharton, Texas. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 27th at Wharton Funeral Home Chapel with Deacon David Valdez officiating. Following services he will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. Condolences may be left at www.whartonfuneralhome.com Services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.