Robert "Bob" Lee Harris, 74, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on Thursday, October 27, 2022. He was born on May 26, 1948 in Vero Beach, Florida to Willie and Mamie (Bagley) Harris.

Robert grew up in Vero Beach, FL attending Gifford high school before eventually graduating from Vero Beach high school in 1966. In 1964, Robert was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was serving as an Elder in the Shawnee, KS congregation at the time of his death. Also in 1964, while accompanying his older brother who was visiting a congregation in Fort Pierce, Florida, Robert met the love of his life Cynthia Laverne Lee and they married in December of 1967. They welcomed their first son three years later and their second son three years after that. In 1986 Robert and his family relocated to Overland Park, KS only intending to stay a short time, but Kansas became their home, where Robert was able to proudly welcome his two grandchildren into the world. Robert retired from the insurance industry in 2018. He loved his faith, his wife, his family, cooking and entertaining guests, MoTown music, the Kansas City Chiefs, Corvettes and his constant companion his dog Buttons.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Cynthia Harris; sons, Michael T Harris and Reginald (Kami) Harris; granddaughter Jamison Harris and grandson Jayden Harris; sisters-in-law, Melva Harris, Vivian Ellis, and Amelia Lee; brothers-in-law, Grady (Barbara) Lee, Robert Lee, and Benjamin (Karen) Lee; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, close friends and many who thought of him as their own father/grandfather. All will miss his smile, his kindness, his wisdom, his southern hospitality, his signature “sayings” , his wonderful story telling, his giving spirit and most of all his love for everyone he met.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Mamie; brothers, Willie (Rosetta) Harris and Charles Harris; and his sister, Mae Francis Johnson.

The family will receive guests for a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00pm on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Penwell Gabel's Olathe Chapel. A memorial service will be held at 6:00pm on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Olathe Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Olathe, KS.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to The Worldwide Work of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Shawnee KS Congregation is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

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Meeting ID: 875 4299 3040
Passcode: 987531



(Job 14:14, 15) 14 If a man dies, can he live again? I will wait all the days of my compulsory service Until my relief comes. 15 You will call, and I will answer you. You will long for the work of your hands.


Order of Service
Chairman…….Mauricio Correa
Song #30………My Father, My God and Friend
Opening Prayer…………Ed Capers
Reading of Obituary…..Mauricio Correa
Memorial Talk……Chris Hanshew (interview Jim Kingsby)
Song #151……He Will Call
Concluding Prayer….Robert Vejar


Forever in his hands

As a child, my tiny hand would reach up and fit comfortably into the palm of my father's tender, yet powerful hand.
With those hands he picked me up, pulled me along, guided me and gently pointed me in the direction that I needed to go.
In his hands I found strength, reassurance, protection, but most of all, I felt his love.
The small boy longed for the day when his hand would be as large and as powerful as the man he simply called "Pop".
But I am grateful that day never came, for my hands could never be equal to his, they would always fit inside
The strength, assurance, guidance, protection and most of all the love would never go away
I love you Pop, and I await the day when my small hand will never have to leave your palm
Revelation 21:3-4 will come to pass and then I will stay FOREVER in your hands

By Michael T Harris, on behalf of Reggie, Kami, Jamison, Jayden, and most of all Cynthia Harris




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