William Richard "Bill" Harris

William Richard “Bill” Harris

“Beloved Grandpa”

Our wonderful husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather, Bill Harris, age 82, passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of March 12, 2008 after complications from open heart surgery in January.

He was born on April 6th, 1925 in Richmond, Utah to “goodly parents” William Zera Harris and Iris Hendricks. He was proud to say he always honored his family name. Bill was educated in the Richmond schools. He married his high school sweetheart, Wilda Claire Hancey, in the Logan Temple on June 7th, 1944. They were married for 59 years until Claire’s death. He married Mary Ellen Glenn on September 9th, 2004.


Bill was a tremendously hard worker and a successful farmer. As a teenager he took over the family farm in Richmond which he still helped on until three months ago. His greatest love was sowing and harvesting the fertile soil and caring for and milking his Holstein cows. He enjoyed service to his much loved Richmond Black and White Days, Cache Valley Dairy Association, The Richmond Riding Club and The Lion’s Club. As a young man he was named Utah’s Young Farmer of the Year.

Bill was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He enjoyed serving in many callings and was thrilled to be a missionary for the church with Claire in the Quezon City, Philippine Island Mission from 1988 to 1990. Bill found joy and solace as he served in the Logan Temple as an officiator and worker for many years. One of his last wishes expressed to Mary Ellen was that he “could go to the temple today.”

A favorite pastime in his younger years was hunting deer in the mountains above Richmond and pheasants on the farm. Each summer during his life he spent time at the family cabin in Wyoming. He shared his love of fishing on Cottonwood Lake with every member of his family. He was a true patriot who spoke constantly of his love of America. He enjoyed supporting his posterity in their activities – his greatest concern was for the well-being of his family.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Ellen, his seven children, Carolyn (Marc) Belliston, Richard (Ann), Craig (Judy), George (Lynette), Sid, Zan (Renie), and Jeff. His posterity includes 31grandchildren and 35great-grandchildren - all of whom loved and adored their “grandpa.” He in turn loved and adored each one of them. He is also survived by his sister Alice Griffiths and his brother Burton (Vivian) Harris. Bill was greeted on the other side by his parents, wife Claire, sister Helen and grandson, Shawn.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 17, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. in the Richmond Stake Center, 135 West Main. Friends may call Sunday evening from 6-8 p.m. and Monday from 9:30-10:45 at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the Richmond City Cemetery.