Floyd Harris

Floyd Renfro Harris, 76, passed away on April 8, 2013, at the Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Ark. He was born on April 27, 1936, the eldest of twins in Stillwell, Okla., to Renfro Harris and Ruby Ruth Evelyn Palmer Harris Thornton. Floyd grew up in Stillwell, Okla., and graduated from Stillwell High School in 1954. After high school he attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla. He graduated in 1958 with his BS in natural science and education. He taught science and math in Oklahoma and Colorado for two years. Floyd met his beautiful wife, Madelyn Joyce Whitlock, at OSU in 1957. They married on May 24, 1959, in Ponca City, Okla., and have been married for 53 years. Floyd joined the Army Reserves in 1960 and eventually achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In 1962, he moved to Kansas City, Mo., for four years of dental school at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. He practiced dentistry for two years in Fayetteville, Ark., and then returned to Kansas City for orthodontic school. Following his graduation in 1970, he returned to Fayetteville, Ark., where he practiced orthodontics and created beautiful smiles for 34 years. He was a member and sometime officer with the American Dental Association, the American Association of Orthodontists, the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Northside Rotary Club. During his life he was involved in the raising of everything from strawberries to pine trees and quarter-horses to Angus cattle. His hobbies included gardening, forestry, camping and traveling. He was a private pilot for many years and had his instrument rating. He built and flew two experimental airplanes, a Christen Eagle and a Stoddard Hamilton Glastar-1. He attended Central United Methodist Church. Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; as well as his stepfather, Roy Thornton; and his twin brother, Boyd Wren Harris. Floyd is survived by his wife, Madelyn of Fayetteville, Ark.; his children, Tamara Sparrow (Greg) of Fayetteville, Ark., Mark Harris (Tammi Shaddox) of Fayetteville, Ark., Deborah Hildebrand (David) of Fayetteville, Ark., and Rebecca Harris of Brooklyn, N.Y.; six grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 10, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at Central United Methodist Church, with The Rev. Steve Pulliam officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Willard Walker Hospice Home, 325 E. Longview St., Fayetteville, AR 72703. To sign the online guest book, please visit www.nelsonberna.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.