Oscar Emsley (Popcorn) Harris

Oscar Emsley (Popcorn) Harris, Jr., age 93, of Bolivar, TN who was born April 21, 1923, in Louisville, KY, went to be with his Lord August 26 at West TN Veterans Home in Humboldt, TN. He was the son of Oscar E. and Dovie Harrison Harris. After graduating from Jackson High School in 1942 he enrolled in Union University. Later in 1942, he married the love of his life, Evalyn Fair Mason, in Corinth, MS. He served in WWII in the 439th Troop Carrier Command as a member of the United States Army Air Corps(From 26 of July 1943 to 17 of Feb. 1946). He attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN, as a member of the Civilian Pilot Training Program and took flight training at the Middlesboro KY Airport, before entering the regular Army Air Corps. After the war he graduated from Murdoch's International Cotton School in Memphis, TN. He was a noted cotton planter and owned Harris Gin and Farm Supply in Bolivar with his father. He was a registered Commodity Broker and former director of the Hardeman County Savings Bank. He was featured on the cover of Tennessee Farmer Magazine with an article "Popcorn Harris Tells His Cotton Secrets." In 1969 he was honored by the West Tennessee Chapter of The Soil Conservation Society of America for his contributions, character and influence in advancing the Art and Science of good land use in Hardeman County and on his farm. He was at one time a member of the Bolivar Planning Commision. After his retirement he had Commercial Real Estate interests in Bolivar. He was an elder in the old Bolivar Presbyterian Church and treasurer of the church. He served as a volunteer Chaplain with the Hardeman County Ministerial Association, representing the Presbyterian Church. After the church closed he returned to the St. James Episcopal Church where he at one time was treasurer there. He was a contributing member of the Heritage Foundation, a member of the James Madison Chapter Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 594, an NRA member and a member of the Hardeman County Chapter of APTA.
Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Dr. Bradley Metcalf Harris(Kathy) Germantown, TN and a daughter, Tempe Harris Easterday(Mike) Reno, NV; Grandchildren: Dr. Julie Harris Marino(John) Tulsa, OK, Jessie Harris Harvey(Phil) Memphis, TN, Dr. Calvin Harris(Rachel) Memphis, TN, Harris Easterday, Reno, NV, Christina Easterday, Reno, NV, and Samuel Bradley Easterday, Reno, NV; Great-Grandchildren: Emmarie, Nealy, and Story Marino, Tulsa, OK, Ellen and Dietrich Harvey, Memphis, TN, Bradley Kepler Harris, Memphis, TN. He also leaves two nephews, Samuel Clayton Davis of MS and William Bernard Cowell of Memphis and a great niece, Rebecca Davis Gahring of Tennessee.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Dorothy Harris Williams, a grandson Bradley Metcalf Harris, Jr., and a nephew, Michael Lewis Davis.
Visitation will be held Friday, September 2, 2016, at 11:00 AM at Ingram Hall (behind the church) and the service will begin at Noon at St. James Episcopal Church.
Memorials may be sent to St. James Scholarship Fund (St. James Church 233 Lafayette St. Bolivar, TN 38008) or Covenant College (Carter Hall 14049 Scenic Hwy Lookout Mountain, GA 30750).