December 13, 1937 - April 13, 2024
The memorial service celebrating and honoring the life of Dan L. Harris, 86, of Enid will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Central Christian Church of Enid with The Reverend Susan Payne Officiating. The service will be live streamed on the Brown-Cummings Funeral Home Facebook page. The burial will be held at a later date in the Cherokee Municipal Cemetery. Services and complete cremation care are under the direction of Brown-Cummings, A Life Celebration Home.
Dan was born December 13, 1937 in St. Anthony’s Hospital to Nan Sloan (McFall) Klausmeier in Oklahoma City. He was raised by his mother and adoptive father, Dr. Paul A Harris. He passed from this life April 13, 2024, in Integris Bass Hospital in Enid.
He was raised and educated in Oklahoma City, graduating from Central High School in 1955. He then entered the Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State) University School of Architecture. In 1955 he also joined the Air National Guard, serving through 1961. In 1959 he married the love of his life Colleen Allison in the Cherokee Methodist Church. In 1961 he graduated from O.S.U. with his Bachelors of Architecture degree. The couple started in Oklahoma City where he began his career as an architect, then moved to Greeley, Colorado for two and a half years. In 1964, the couple made their home in Enid where he joined the firm of Day and Davies. He later opened his own office Dan L. Harris Architect, sharing office space with colleague Don Wright.
Dan designed everything from residential remodels to large-scale commercial projects. Some of his more notable local projects were St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, multiple additions to the Glenwood Elementary School, the original building for The Cherokee Strip Museum, Christ United Methodist Church, Southern Hills Christian Church in Edmond, and The First Christian Church of Duncan. Later, he worked for O.S.U. in its building and facilities department, Conoco, Inc. designing refinery control rooms, and ultimately the planning and design department for the civilian contractors at Vance Air Force Base. In every position, Dan brought energy and excellence to his work.
He was a long-time member of Central Christian Church, where he served in various leadership roles, including as the Board Moderator multiple times and was honored as an Elder Emeritus.
Dan had a passion for trains and model railroading, but family was always the top priority. He rarely missed a game, concert, activity, or program where his children or grandchildren participated. For both his family and in pursuit of service to others, he was always working to improve his community. Dan was fundamental in the founding and/or leadership in many organizations, such as Enid Noon Ambucs (past President), American Red Cross (local President), Enid Symphony Orchestra, Gaslight Theater, Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Air Force Association Chapter 214, and American Institute of Architects (state President and Secretary). Even in death, Dan planned for how he could contribute, donating his body to the medical center at O.S.U. to be used for research and education.
He is survived by his children; daughter, Allison Angleton and husband Lynn of Enid, sons, Greg Harris and wife Daphne of Aurora, CO, and Kyle Harris of Nolensville, TN; six grandchildren, Connor Angleton, and wife Kamika, Emily Angleton and fiance Mason, Austin Harris, Julia Harris, Sophia Harris, and Tyler Harris and dear friend Phyllis Phillips.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, his parents, and siblings Paul A Harris, Jr. and Betty Ottinger.
Memorials may be made in his name to the Property Fund at Central Christian Church, the Railroad Museum of Oklahoma or to the Enid Symphony Orchestra with Brown-Cummings Serving as custodians of the funds.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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