M. Bishop 'Tex' Harp died peacefully Thursday morning, January 1, at the Homestead Hospice House in Owatonna, at the age of 83. He was born in Mansfield, Arkansas on August 21, 1925, and later moved to El Paso, Texas, with his siblings and parents, Autry and Argie Harp. After graduating from High School, he entered the US Navy in 1943 and served during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific area on board the USS Lawrence DD-250 as Radar Man, 2nd Class, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1946. In 1951, He graduated from the University of Denver with a Bachelor''s degree in Business Administration, where he also played football. His business career was exclusive to the trucking industry in labor relations and was a respected grievance committee arbitrator. Tex moved to Owatonna in 2004, and most recently lived at Morehouse Place. In the community, he was a caregiver, driving for cancer patients, and watering flowers. He was a faithful member of the Elks, served as Board Member of Morehouse Place, and was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. He had the love and presence of his family, his daughter Karen Killen, husband Jim, as well as his grandchildren and great grandchildren. His greatest joy came from creating memories with his extended family, traveling (preferably by car or train), including Disneyland, The Indianapolis 500, and special sporting events. His was the home away from home for his grandchildren who attended KU, when he lived in Kansas, years and experiences about which he often talked. He relished the opportunity to display his culinary skills by preparing special dishes and 'Boo Rolls' for family dinners. He was united in marriage to Rita Mary Hite in Kansas City in 1961. They later divorced in 1988, and she died in 2002. Following his retirement, Tex moved to Arizona. He married Mary Easton in 1995. She died in July of 2004 and then he moved to Owatonna. Tex was also preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Lona and Margie and his step-son Philip Robert Hite. Tex is survived by his sister Blanche Elston, niece Kathy Sonnefeldt, Uncle Mel Harp, Chuck Bishop, cousins and family friends, his daughter Karen and her husband Jim, their family, Mark and his wife Ann and their children Matthew, John and Georgia; Steven and his children Cameron, Brennan and Kyrie; John and his wife Wendy and their children John and Henry; Katherine Killen Hall and her husband Larik and their children Mason, Aidan and Ava; daughter-in-law Rosalie Hite, her family, Pamela Smith and her husband Louis and their children Kayla Mattison and her husband Edward, Kelly Smith and Megan Smith; Kevin and his wife Jill and their children Philip and Andrew; and Jeffery and his wife Julie. Visitation will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, January 10, from 9:30 AM until the Mass of Christian Burial begins at 11:00 AM, celebrated by family friend Father Sylvester Brown. Internment with full military honors will be at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. Memorials are preferred to Homestead Hospice House Owatonna or American Cancer Society. Visitation: 01/10/2009 09:30 01/10/2009 11:00 Service: 01/10/2009 11:00