JOHN DAE "J.D." HARRAH, M.D., 77, of Huntington, WV passed away on January 2, 2017, at the Hospice House of Huntington. He was born on May 6, 1939, in White Sulphur Springs, WV. He is preceded in death by his mother, Mabel (Bauer) Harrah; his father, Delvin Dae "Ike" Harrah; and his brother, Delvin Dae "Shag" Harrah, Jr. J.D. is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Phyllis Shumate Harrah; and two sons, John D. Harrah, Jr., M.D., of Huntington, WV; and Ryan E. Harrah (Jessica Adams-Harrah) and their children, Benjamin "Ben" Harrah and Grady Harrah, of Hurricane, WV. JD is also survived by his sister, Elizabeth Ann Brewster (Robert Jerry Brewster), of Huntington, and two brothers, Merrel Patterson of Panama City, FL and Edward Harrah (Pamela Miller-Harrah) of Grosse Pointe City, MI. He leaves behind a niece and nephews that he loved dearly, Donia Danielle "Dede" (Brewster) Ferguson, Robert Brewster II (Catherine Smith-Brewster), William Harrah, and Mark Brewster (Stormy). He was truly blessed with many special friends and family too numerous to mention.  In addition to being a proud husband, father, and grandfather, J.D. had many accomplishments and interests including his career as a surgeon, veteran, Eagle Scout, pilot, avid outdoorsman and farmer. J.D. attended West Virginia University and went on to graduate from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Followed by a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD, and a Senior Residency and Chief Residency in Surgery, as well his Senior Residency in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the UVA Medical Center in Charlottesville, VA. He completed the Aerospace Medicine Course at Brooks Air Force Base, TX. He completed a fellowship in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the Texas Heart Institute under the well-known Dr. Denton A. Cooley. He was a licensed physician in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina, but his love for family and the people of West Virginia led him home. He spent a career serving the people of the Tri-State area as a Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon. He founded and developed the cardiac surgery program and the vascular lab at St. Mary's Medical Center. He performed the first open heart surgery in the Tri-State area in September of 1979. His dedication as a surgeon led him to directly and literally touch the hearts, as well as lives, of more than 4,000 patients, not to include the countless family members. In 2013, St. Mary's Medical Center honored him for his service and dedication, by adding him to their Wall of Fame.  A strong believer in the education of future physicians, J.D. served as a Clinical Lecturer for the Bowman-Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, NC, Adjunct Professor and Research Fellow for the Lewis College of Business at Marshall University and in many roles, to include Professor, Clinical Professor of Surgery, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Services, Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Cardiovascular Services, Associate Dean for Curriculum Development, and Course Director for the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University. He was a member of seven honor societies and 14 professional societies.  J.D. was a strong supporter of the military, with two sons following in his foot-steps. He served as a Lieutenant with the U.S. Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD and later as a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force and the WV Air National Guard, in which he served as the commander of the 167th Tactical Clinic in Martinsburg, WV. His public service continued for the remainder of his professional career through his dedication to serving other veterans at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Huntington, WV.  He served on more than 10 committees in the local area, to include medical, finance, and economic development. He was a member of the American Legion and a proud supporter of the Boy Scouts of America, Big Green Scholarship Foundation, and the UVA Medical Library. J.D. loved West Virginia and worked tirelessly to help the people around him. Although he loved Huntington, he found true relaxation while farming in Greenbrier County, WV and he will be making one final trip to find peace there. The visitation will be held at Chapman's Mortuary in Huntington, WV, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM Thursday January 5, 2017, and the internment for family and close friends will be held on Friday January 6, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. at Wallace Memorial Cemetery near Sam Black Church, WV. The family request that anyone attending the interment service please dress casual and warm. As an alternative to flowers, donations may be made to the Emogene D. Jones Hospice House in Huntington, Highlawn Presbyterian Church in Huntington, the Big Green Scholarship Foundation, or to scholarships at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine c/o Marshall University Foundation.