Otis Harman (Tulia)

Tulia, Texas—C. Otis Harman, 90, died Wednesday, March 15, 2006 in Tulia. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 17, 2006 in the Central Church of Christ with Bob Colson, lay minister officiating, and Rev. Rob Lindley, pastor of First United Methodist Church assisting. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Kornerstone Funeral Directors in Tulia. Otis was born in Industry, Kansas, on December 4, 1915, to Virgil and Esther Harman. The family moved to Plainview on March 17, 1917. On September 28, 1917, a home place was purchased in Tulia precipitating another move. Otis graduated from Tulia High School in 1933 and West Texas State College in Canyon in 1937 with a BS in math and minor in physics. He taught math in Plainview, Stratford, and Coleman while farming during the summer. On August 2, 1939, he married Helen Edna Rahlfs. In 1942, he and Helen moved back to Tulia from Coleman. He taught mechanics at Amarillo Air Force Base while working on B17’s and B29’s. In 1943, he returned to farming. Helen died on July 14, 1999. On April 22, 2000, he married Mary Cleaver in Tulia. Otis served on numerous boards: Texas Cattle Feeders, Grain Sorghum Producers, Tulia Industrial Foundation, Tulia Day Nursery (1st President and charter board member, he made many trips to Austin raising funds for the nursery), Zoning and Planning Commission (25+ years), Texas Highway Valuation Commission, President Tulia School Board, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Band Parents, Texas Wheat Producers Board (served 25 years), President Texas Wheat Producers (3 years), Executive Board of National Wheat Foundation, Director of Grain Mutual Insurance Trust (13 years), 1974 Soil Conservation Man of the Year, 1986 Tulia Man of the Year, 2001 Tulia Pioneer Spirit, and 2001 Wheat Man of the Year. Otis was part owner of the Tulia Feedlot and served on its board until his death. He was a member of Central Church of Christ and was the longest active member of the Tulia Chamber of Commerce. Otis is survived by his wife, Mary Harman of Tulia. He is also survived five daughters and sons-in- laws: Betty and Tommy Womack of Tulia, Patsy and Jerry Merrill of Shreveport, La., Martha and Larry Goff of Emory, Texas, Mary Beth and Warren Hewitt of Gladstone, MO, and Pam and Bryan Edwards of Tulia, two step-daughters: Katha and Ronnie Pierce of Amarillo, and Reba and Jim Cox of Brighton, Michigan. He was blessed with 10 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. He is survived by his sister, Dorothy Donaldson of Farwell and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Helen, four brothers, and one sister. Memorials may be made to the Tulia Senior Citizens, 619 S.E. 2nd St., Tulia, Texas 79088 or the Area Community Hospice, 3109 Olton Rd., Suite C, Plainview, Texas 79072 or the High Plains Children’s Home, 11461 S. Western St., Amarillo, Texas 79101.