James Harris

James Earl Harris passed away Monday, May 27, 2013 in Evanston, Wyoming.  He was born June 3, 1926 to John William and Abigail Amelia Harris. He was the second of five children.

He was married to Dorothy Elaine Martin for time and all eternity on July 2, 1948 in the Salt Lake City Temple by Apostle Mark E. Peterson. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and held many positions in the church. He was a membership clerk for 25 years.  In the summer of 1958 he helped build the Latter-day Saint chapel on Sage Street. He worked many long hours on this project. He served as a faithful home teacher for as long as his health would allow him.

He was raised in North Evanston one block from the Bear River where he would swim with his friends during the summer. He learned to work hard at an early age and was employed by the Bennett and Sims Dairies. During his teen years he worked in the hay fields on the Sessions and Saxton Ranches.

Just after he turned eighteen years old, Jim served in the United States Army in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of the Second World War. For his brave service as a combat medic in Negros, Philippines, he was awarded the Bronze Star. When the war ended, his regiment was one of the first units of occupational troops to land in Yokohama, Japan. He received many medals for his patriotic service, but the one he was most proud of was the World War II Victory Medal.

In 1946, James returned home. He enrolled in Evanston High School to finish his senior year as he left for the army before graduating. There he met and married his wife, Elaine. They shared their entire lives in Evanston and had five wonderful children John, Donna, Garth, Dan and Mark.

James worked for the State of Wyoming Highway Department for over thirty-nine years. He enjoyed the work and was a valued employee.  After he retired, he went to work for John Crandall of the Crandall Funeral Home for four years.  Although his employment with the Crandall family was relatively short, those were his favorite working years.

He was a devoted husband and father and is loved by his wife, children, grandchildren and many friends.  Jim particularly enjoyed hunting and shooting with his sons and grandsons. He was proud of his family and took great joy in their lives. He loved to sketch and even drew up the plans for the home he built where he and Elaine raised their children. His family was his life.

James is survived by his wife, Elaine and his children: John (Kim) Harris of Orem, Utah; Donna (Wayne) Madsen of Ypsilanti, Michigan; Garth (Sharon) Harris of West Valley, Utah; Dan (Christine) Harris of Palmer, Alaska and Mark (Kari) Harris of Casper, Wyoming; eighteen grandchildren and thirty great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenny (Barbara) Harris of Orem, Utah and survived by two other brothers and two sisters; Charles (Kathy) Harris of Ogden, Utah; Sid (Marilyn) Harris of Salt Lake City, Utah; Helen Kennedy of Evanston, Wyoming; Karen (George) Mote of Sunset, Utah.  Other survivors include his in-laws, Aaron (Nancy) Martin of Evanston, Wyoming; Mike Martin of Evanston, Wyoming; Charlotte (Monty) Hooton of Union, Oregon.

Funeral service will be on Saturday, June 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. in the Evanston LDS Fourth Ward, 200 Sage Street.  Friends may call at the Crandall Funeral Home in Evanston from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening and on Saturday at the church one hour prior to the service.  Interment with military honors will follow in the Evanston City Cemetery.