Donnie Jay Harris, 89, of Wellington, Kansas, passed away Thursday afternoon, August 29, 2024, at William Newton Hospital.

Born July 19, 1935, northwest of Burden, Kansas, he was the son of R. Lee and Alice (Plummer) Harris.  He attended first grade in Burden.  His family moved to Winfield where he graduated from Winfield High School in 1953.  During high school, Donnie worked at Albertsons Market.  Upon graduation, he went to work at the Winfield Lumber Company and also worked at Sonner Burner.

On May 10, 1954, he entered the US Navy, taking basic training in San Diego, California.  He then went to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for training for Machinist Mate.  In December 1954, Donnie boarded the USS Graffias, a supply ship, and in March 1956, transferred to the USS Ashtabula, an oil tanker, traveling to the middle east for four trips.

He was united in marriage to Delores A. Dust on May 1, 1954 in El Dorado, Kansas.  Upon his honorable discharge, he worked in construction for the City of Winfield, the Consolidated Flour Mill, and the Wichita Flour Mill.  In June 1964, he moved to Wellington, where he went to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation, retiring as Maintenance Supervisor in 1995.  He worked at K Square in Strother Field for five years and went to work at Braums in Wellington from March 2000 until April 2005.

Donnie enjoyed playing guitar, banjo, and mandolin.  He also enjoyed working in his shop making things for his great grandchildren.  He became a Christian at the age of 11 and attended First Southern Baptist Church in Burden, Central Baptist Church in Winfield, and First Southern Baptist Church in Wellington.

His family includes his wife Delores A. Harris of Wellington; his son Donald A. Harris of Wellington; his daughters, Debra Kolman and husband, Brian of Wellington; Cindy Eagle and husband, Donald of Sterling Heights, MI; his brothers, Irvin E. Harris of Green Valley, AZ; Charles W. Harris of Douglass; his grandchildren, Roy Brown, Mike Kolman, Patrick Kolman, Alea Haggerty, Chelle Klein, Staci Spencer, Sarah Harris; and his great grandchildren, Nicole Corter, Piper Kolman, Claire Brown, Kannon Klein, Kai Klein, Kadea Dockery, Chance Dockery, and Maisie Kolman.

In addition to his parents, Donnie was preceded in death by two sisters Mary E. Hanna and Martha L. Good, two brothers, Harvey R. Harris and Robert L. Harris and a daughter-in-law Rebecca Harris.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 6, 2024, at Free Will Baptist Church in Wellington.  Interment will follow at the Kansas Veterans Cemetery.  A visitation is scheduled at Miles Funeral Service on Thursday, September 5, 2024 from 4 to 8 P.M.  The family will greet visitors from 4 to 6 that evening.

Memorials have been established in Donnie's name for Free Will Baptist Church and for Wounded Warriors.  Contributions may be made through the funeral home.