BENTONVILLE — Donald O’Brien Harris,
age 93, of Bentonville, Ark., passed away peacefully on October 13, 2023, surrounded by family.
Don was born during the Great Depression in Seminole, Okla., to the late Harold N. and Estelle Evans Harris. He spent his early years with the family living in an oil field camp in Oklahoma. At 16, he hitchhiked across the country to California looking for work. Upon graduating high school in Seminole, Okla., he served in the Air Force and was stationed in England during the Korean War. Don went to college on the GI Bill, eventually earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from the University of Oklahoma. He was teaching accounting at Southern Arkansas University when he met the love of his life, Nancy Dixon who became his wife of 54 years before her passing in 2016. Don also taught accounting at Memphis State University and the University of Oklahoma.
In 1973, he and Nancy moved to Camden, Ark. to take over the family business from Nancy’s father. Don had a keen sense for business and grew Dixon Furniture Company to be the largest furniture store in south Arkansas. With Nancy as his trusted business partner, they owned and operated the furniture business for over 20 years before retiring in 1994. He was Past President of the Arkansas Furniture Association and was inducted into the Arkansas Furniture Association Hall of Fame in 2006. Don was a Master Gardener, a tenacious armadillo hunter and enjoyed playing bridge with his many friends. Don was a very generous person. He practiced random acts of kindness, sometimes to the consternation of his wife Nancy. He adored his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don leaves behind a legacy of love.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Nancy Dixon Harris, brother Jack L. Harris and sister Billie L. Mitchell. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Brian and Lana Harris of Fayetteville, Ark.; his daughter and son-inlaw Cynthia and Paul Ramm of Bentonville, Ark.; sister Phyllis Parmer of Altus, Okla. and sister-in-law Beth Hardy of Richmond, Va. He is also survived by grandchildren Carolanne & Andrew Turpin of Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; Colten & Francie Harris of Fayetteville, Ark.; Trey Ramm of Cologne, Germany; Alex Ramm of Bentonville, Ark., and Amanda & Alex Sumrow of Temecula, Calif. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Mason, Meredith & Mitchell Turpin of Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.; Magnolia and Blythe Harris of Fayetteville, Ark. and Faith, Brody, Kennedey, Liam and Kennley Sumrow of Temecula, Calif., along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 11 a.m. at Rollins Funeral Home in Rogers, Ark. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.