Obituary of James A. Harris

James Albert Harris, 88, of Bradford, IL, passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Arc at Chillicothe, surrounded by his family. He was born in Osceola, IL on September 15, 1935, to Marion and Arlene (McKeever) Harris. He married Helen C. Finnegan on November 27, 1954, in Camp Grove, IL. She preceded him in death on June 24, 2012. Surviving are three sons, Terry (Shirley) Harris of East Peoria, Gary Harris of Round Rock, TX, and Doug (Julie) Harris of Bradford; 5 grandchildren, Emily and Cathrine Harris of Las Vegas, Jimmy (Kimberly), Nathan (Mariah Kraft), and Zachary Harris, all of Bradford; and two great grandchildren, Paisley and Jaxon Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Marty; his sister, Donna Williams; and his brother, Dennis. Jim worked at Hotchkiss Steel Company, later known as Bradford Industries, for 45 years. He enjoyed his family, hunting and fishing, and was a master craftsman. Jim took great pride in his craftsmanship. He also enjoyed going uptown every day to drink coffee with his buddies. The family would like to thank the staff at the Arc at Chillicothe for taking great care of Jim. Cremation rites have been accorded. Cremation Specialist of Illinois is assisting the family. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at the American Legion Hall in Bradford, Illinois. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Diabetes Association. Online condolences may be left at www.CSOFIL.com.