Joe Pearce Harle passed on November 1, 2026 in Abilene, Texas just shy of turning 107 by eleven days. A fifth generation Texan he was born Nov. 12, 1919, in Port Arthur, Texas to Frances E. (Caldwell) Harle, and Joe Y. Harle.

Joe graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur in June 1938. He was active in the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle with two palms.

After high school Joe attended the University of Idaho his freshman year and then three years at the University of Missouri graduating in June 1942. He was an active member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (FIJI) at both Idaho and Missouri and throughout his life.

Joe served four years in the US Army in WW II (July 1942 - June 1946) from Private to First Lt. With the 157th Engineer Combat Battalion he landed on Utah Beach, Normandy June 21, 1944 (D-Day+15) and fought in all five campaigns across Europe ending at Salzburg, Austria.

After returning from WW II, Joe married Mary Elizabeth Mills of Port Arthur Texas in Dec. 1946. They settled in Houston where they lived for 37 years. Learning the shipping business there, Joe founded J.P. Harle Forwarding Co. and Harle Services Inc., which grew to have branch offices in New Orleans, Dallas, Tulsa, Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles, with agents worldwide.

He was a three-term president on the Texas Ocean Freight Forwarders Assn., a director of the Houston Cotton Exchange, member of the Houston World Trade Assn., Houston Port & Traffic Bureau, Houston Chamber of Commerce, and others. He was an adult leader in Boy Scout Troop 642 and a merit badge counselor for many years.

Joe traveled extensively throughout the world for his shipping business. He also developed an old, abandoned farm in San Jacinto County into an award-winning pine tree farm and weekend retreat.

In 1981 Joe sold his shipping companies. He and Mary Liz retired to Lakeway on Lake Travis near Austin.

In July 2005 Joe and Mary Liz moved to a new retirement community in Abilene Texas to be near their son. When Mary Liz passed in 2006, they had been married 59 years. Joe is survived by daughter Mary Lu Harle of Anchorage Alaska, daughter-in-law Nicki Harle, grandsons Joe Wilton, Henry Kirt and Lee Pearce Harle, seven great-grandchildren and numerous relatives including a special nephew Joe Neil Harle of Longview Texas. He is preceded in death by his wife Mary Liz and son Robert P. Harle.

A memorial service will be in San Marcos Texas Cemetery for family member with burial in the family lot there.