James Wiley Harp

James Wiley “Chief” Harp, 71, of Canyon passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Memorial Services will be held at First Methodist Church, Canyon on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at 1:00pm. The services will be live streamed through First Methodist Church’s Facebook page, firstmethodist.church. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Friday, November 21 at Brooks Chapel in Canyon.

Wiley was born January 21, 1954 in Canyon, Texas to J.T. and Mayme (Nance) Harp. He graduated from Ed W. Clark High School in Las Vegas, NV in 1972. He returned to Canyon to attend WTSU and majored in Computer and Information Systems and graduated with a BBA in 1977. He benefited greatly from the financial support of the Opportunity Plan Inc., and he continued to support OPI through the years including spending time serving on the board. He was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. While attending WTSU, he met Rebecca “Becky” Haley of Canyon, and they were married June 12, 1976. Wiley was the Director of Data Processing at the Potter-Randall County Appraisal District for over 40 years from its founding in 1981 until he retired in 2021.

In the summer of 1972, his parents had moved to Los Alamos, NM, Wiley noticed an ad about being a “hot shot” to help put out forest fires. He would continue to support his education each summer with firefighting. His interest was rekindled upon hearing a speech on volunteer firefighting during a Kiwanis Club meeting. In 1981, he joined the Canyon Volunteer Fire Department under the watchful eye of Chief Joe Rice and remained with the fire department for 43 years. He worked his way up the ranks holding the positions of Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and Deputy Chief, the highest volunteer rank in the department. He was also treasurer of the Canyon Fire Fighters Association and PFFMA for many years. For those years he was known as a mentor to all.

Scouting was also an important part of Wiley’s life. He became an Eagle Scout in 1971. He volunteered as Scout Master of Troop 4 in Canyon. He also served as the Fire Safety and Awareness merit badge counselor for many years. He was recently recognized as one of the 2025 Friends of Scouting Good Scout Award recipients. He was proud to see his grandchildren involved in scouting as well.

Wiley was very active in the Canyon community, serving on multiple committees, boards and was a member of multiple civic service organizations. He served as a Deacon and an Elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Canyon.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Becky; a son, Jason Harp and wife, Melissa, and grandchildren, Jackson, Emma and Owen of Knoxville, TN, and a daughter, Haley Pearson and husband, Mike, and grandson, Wyatt of Canyon. He is also survived by his sister, Susan (Kirk) Peterson of Santa Fe, NM, brother, Steve (Jennifer) Harp of Slippery Rock, PA, and sister, Karen (Rob) Walker of Grangeville, ID, as well as two uncles, several cousins, numerous friends, and his beloved dogs, Bear, Skye, and Hunter.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Gentiva Hospice for their loving support through his final days, along with a special thank you to OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the

Canyon Fire Fighters Association, Scholarship Fund, PO Box 98, Canyon TX 79015

Panhandle Firemen’s & Fire Marshals’ Association - PFFMA, Wyley Cheney Memorial Relief Fund (which supports Panhandle Area fire fighters in times of crisis and loss) PO BOX 32413, Amarillo, TX 79120

Opportunity Plan Inc., PO BOX 1035, Canyon TX 79015

Or any dog rescue of your choice.