Gerald Wayne Harris

Gerald was born in Terrell, Texas, to Richard Lewis Harris and Wanda Jean Golightly. He was preceded in death by his brother, Ricky, and his sister, Gloria.

He leaves behind his beloved children: son Cliff , and daughters Sheila and Crystal. He is also survived by his sisters: Sherry and her husband Anthony, Dianne, Patricia and her husband Darryl. Gerald leaves a large and loving extended family, including nephews Les, Joe, Bobby, Chris, Randy, CJ, JJ, and Ace; nieces Christine, Mindy, Brittany, Patricia, Lora, Lianne, Destiny, McKennzee, and Dallas. He was a proud grandfather to Tradavion, Nyona, Maylei, Aiden, Diana, Maria, Fernando, Antonio, and Violet, and a great-grandfather to Izyais, Le Yona, Emmanuel, and Santiago.

Gerald’s passion was his work. He spent his career as a highly respected commercial painter, working most recently with Keeland and Company Painting. Over the years, he also worked with Parrent's Painting, Cherry Coatings, SW Webb, RL Harkins, several commercial companies out of Atlanta, and the Local Unions in Dallas during the 1970s and 1980s. He ran large commercial painting projects across the entire DFW area and was known as a true craftsman who knew his trade inside and out.

A master sprayman and natural leader, Gerald loved training new people in the trade and took pride in mentoring others. He loved the men he worked with daily and considered them family. Known throughout DFW job sites, he was often referred to as a “construction celebrity.” General contractors and trades alike wanted “Mr. Wayne” on their job. He was straight to the point, unafraid to speak up, and famous for sayings like, “They’re putting the cart before the horse.” He proudly called himself “#1,” and everyone knew it—Mr. Wayne was truly “#1.”

When he wasn’t working, Gerald loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, being with family, and watching sports. He was a die-hard fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Longhorns, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Dallas Stars, along with being an all-around sports fan who especially loved college sports.

Gerald was also a master at playing dominoes and spades, where his competitive spirit and sharp wit were on full display. He loved playing blackjack at casinos and enjoyed the excitement of the game just as much as the people he played with. Games were never just games to him—they were moments of laughter, strategy, and connection.

He was an avid fisherman who enjoyed traveling to different lakes to catch bass and catfish. He also loved playing the Texas Lottery and bingo—and was known for his luck at winning. He loved good food, especially steak and fried potatoes, his favorite meal.

One of his proudest moments was helping complete the five-star restaurant Mister Charles in Dallas. The owner invited all the trades to a celebratory dinner. Of course, Gerald ordered the Wagyu steak and potatoes. Halfway through the meal, he famously said, “It sure would be nice if I had some Tabasco—let me run to my truck and get it,” causing the entire table to erupt in laughter. No matter the setting, Mr. Wayne loved his Tabasco—and ate it with just about everything.

He loved to cook and was known for his incredible “bean burger,” his grilling skills, and a mean homemade hot sauce. Gerald loved his family, his friends, and his work family deeply. He was truly one of a kind and will be missed beyond words.