Michael Ray ("Mike") Harris was born on January 14, 1956 to Mother, Gay Nell (Burk) Harris and Father, Harold Dean Harris in Houston, Texas. Mike grew up in Meadowbrook in southeast Houston attending Melinda Bonner Elementary, James S. Deady Junior High, graduating from Charles H. Milby High School in 1974, as well attending San Jacinto Junior College.

The neighborhood in Meadowbrook was predominately a 'boy neighborhood' with Mike being the youngest (by at least 2 years) of approximately 15 boys, ranging from elementary to high school age, with a lot of bike riding (even through Glenbrook Golf Course), sandlot baseball, football and wiffleball, as well as swimming at Glenbrook Olympic Pool. Mike held his own with the older kids and wasn't afraid of anything. Mike was a natural hitter, playing Little League at Freeway American, where he hit over .650 as a 9 year-old; additionally, he was selected as one of only two 10 year-olds allowed per team to play in the Majors where he was later named as an All Star. He played football as a linebacker for the Garden Villas Methodist Pirates and the Deady Junior High Hornets. Mike also played fastpitch softball at Woodridge Baptist Church on the 18 & under Boys' Team that won the City Championship and played in the State Tournament in Dallas. He also later played on the Men's team where, as a centerfielder, his unbelievable running catch set up the still-talked-about famous Burk triple play. He also played slowpitch with his Milby and work friends on the Fence Busters sponsored by Palletized Trucking. As much as Mike loved playing sports, he enjoyed being a Sport Dad even more, following Jared's baseball days and playing football at Clear Lake High School.

Mike's work career began in the railroad construction industry with Earl Campbell Construction. Mike then spent the next 37 years in sales with Palletized Trucking, Inc., owned by Rex and Marilyn King and one of Mike's best friends Mike King, whose relationship goes back to Junior High.

Besides sports, Mike had a passion for cars and hotrods. He shared that in common with Ron and his cars were always immaculate, including two '55 Chevrolet 2-door hardtops, a '38 Chevrolet 5-window Coupe, a new '72 VW Baja Bug (a sister to cousin Jimbo's VW) and several Chevelles, including two Super Sports (a '67 and a '71). His prized possession was his all steel, '34 Ford 2-door sedan which he owned for over 30 years.

In addition to sports and cars, Mike loved his involvement with the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, when in 1984 he volunteered as a member of the Calf Scramble Arena Committee, serving 31 years as an active member and becoming a Lifetime member in 2015. He was also a proud member of the Delta Alphas, a special fraternity within the Calf Scramble Committee, having been inducted in the Class of 1989.

He loved his family and friends and there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for you if he was aware of a need.

Mike is survived by his two children, Jared Ray Harris and Lindsay Brooke Cotten, grandchildren Nathan Parker and Abigail Brooke Holmes and Cole Michael Rhys Cotten, brother Ron and wife Melodie, niece Kimberly Presson and husband Danny and their children Julia Grace and Henry James, aunts Ouida Bristow and Helen Lierman, as well as numerous cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Gay Nell, along with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

The celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Pasadena Chapel, Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 12:00pm., with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.