Hugh Harris

Born December 18, 1949 to Paul Harris and Bobbie Langston Harris, Hugh (Ray) Harris died June 8, 2026.

Hugh is survived by his brother John Harris (Kim Abbott) and his wife of 51 years, Patricia Weeks Harris. 

Hugh was a visual artist: painter, photographer, potter, illustrator, and cartoonist. As an adjunct art instructor he taught painting, drawing, photography, theology, and art history, and he was a mentor to many students of UALR, Henderson, and Hendrix College.

He was also a musician who played several instruments including keyboards and guitar. Hugh enjoyed playing with other musicians, sometimes playing in public with various musical friends. He thrived on creative collaboration. Hugh was a collector. He collected coins, fossils, rocks, and crystals from early childhood. As a teenager, his love of music led him to collecting records, 8-track tapes, reel to reel tapes, cassette tapes, mini cassette tapes, and of course, the equipment that went with playing recordings. Helping to put the public radio station KABF on the air was one of his proudest achievements.

Hugh made friends easily and often and was unswerving in his loyalty. His many friends already miss him.

A retrospective of Ray’s art will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Clark County Humane Society P. O. Box 435, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.