Kermit Harper

Kermit Lee Harper, the coolest, most fun loving guy we’ve ever known has walked on to be with his parents and friends in Heaven. He died peacefully at home the morning of Saturday, November 4, 2017. Right up until his passing, he was still in principal mode, large and in charge. Kermit was born July 9, 1938, to Grace Lee Brantley Harper and William Kermit Harper, in the family home on 7th Street in Somerville, Texas and was delivered by Dr. G.V. Pazdral.

Kermit was very active in Somerville school activities. He was an outstanding high school athlete, winning all district honors for football in 1955 and basketball in 1955-56. He was recently inducted into the Somerville High School Hall of Fame.
Following his high school graduation in 1956, he accepted a scholarship to play basketball for Blinn Junior College. After completing his work at Blinn, Kermit graduated from Sam Houston State Teachers College (Now SHSU), earning the Bachelor of Science and Master of Education degrees. He was also a veteran of The United States Army.

He was employed by the Houston Independent School District for 38 years where he met the love of his life, Jann Alford. Their relationship started off with excitement as the first time “Mr. Harper” called “Miss Alford” at home to ask her to dinner. School district policy disallowed dating between administrators and teachers on the same campus, so they kept their budding romance a secret.
Kermit and Jann were married February 8, 1969 in Navasota, Texas. They have two daughters, Claudette Ann and Angeline Lee. Claudette and her late husband, Mark Brown, have two children Ashley Grace and Andrew William. Angeline and her husband, Paul Escamilla, have two sons, Lane Harper and Ryder McCoy.

Kermit and Jann have supported the University of Houston for over 45 years. They have participated in large tailgating parties with their children, grandchildren and anyone who loved The University of Houston. Kermit’s legacy to his family is to stick together, to support one another and to always drive a Cougar red truck.....”True we’ll ever be.”

Being a part of a musical family, he was often asked if he was as talented as his sister and his daddy, to which he answered, “No, but if my sister can play it, and my daddy can sing it, I can dance to it.” Kermit was an award winning dancer, and he enjoyed following his musician friends whom he met in his youth for the rest of his life.

Kermit was popular no matter where he went. He made everyone feel welcome in his world, and took a genuine interest in each person who crossed his path.....although, you had to be alert to the fact that he would pull a joke on you. Whether it was putting clothes pins on the bottom of your dress or getting in your car with the radio blaring, windshield wipers on high and the heater blowing full blast, you always knew Kermit had been there.

Besides his wife, children and grandchildren, Kermit is survived by his beloved sister, Marilyn Harper Welch, whom he repeatedly declared to be the most beautiful and talented person in his life. He is the proud uncle of his nephews, Mike, Bob and Charles Welch and his niece, Wendy Magnuson and their families. In addition, he is survived by numerous cousins whom he loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church of Somerville.

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