Clarence Harris

Clarence Everett Harris, 95 passed away Feb. 18, 2014 at Highgate House Yakima, WA. He was born June 1, 1918 at Parowan, Utah and was the first son of seven children of Claude Everett Harris and Harriet Ann Taylor. He spent his first 18 year in Parowan where he attend school and graduated from High School. Clarence wanted to work so his Dad borrowed $30 to buy him a ticket to Yakima, WA where his friend was working. When he arrived he found his friend had left for Camas, WA so he got his first job pumping gas for Mr. Ackley along First Street. When the IRS closed the station due to tax failure Clarence decided to go to Goldendale to see his grandparents who he had seen only once. He then went to Camas, WA and took a job on a farm milking cows and doing farm work. He regularly sent money home to his mother to help her with expenses. In the spring of 1937 he went to work at a Crown Zellerbach paper mill in Camas, WA where he worked for five months and continued to send money home to his mother. He was laid off at the paper mill so he joined the Civilian Conservation Corp and served two years and one month then returned to the paper mill. Clarence married Barbara Conner Sept 30, 1941. In October of 1941 he was drafted into the army and in February was sent to Fort Francis E. Warren in Cheyenne, WY where he served two years. He boarded a ship at Newport News, VA bound for Casablanca, North Africa in November of 1943. Clarence was put in charge of the motor pool which had 60 trucks that he kept running as they moved through Italy and Austria. He was discharged from the Military in Sept 30, 1945. A few weeks later he returned to work at Crown Zellerbach. His first daughter, Claudia, was born in 1944 and a second daughter, Louise, was born in 1946. His first son, Gregory, was born in 1948 and a second son, Ronald, in 1952. He continued to work at Crown Zellerbach was made a supervisor over the napkin line and worked until the spring of 1957. He moved to Yakima, WA. where he was offered a job as an electrician at Emerson Ransier Electrical. Clarence was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint where he served as ward and stake clerk, stake finance clerk and in the High Council of the Yakima Stake. In June of 1964 he moved to Salt Lake City where he joined his brother in his auto repair shop. He wanted to have a retirement plan so he started work at the Kennecott Copper Mine. He learned in 1979 his wife, Barbara, had lymphoma cancer. He continued to work for Kennecott Copper Mine and retired in 1983 at age 65. Three years later, Barbara, passed away in May of 1986. In October he met Lois Thornley Clayton who lived in Toppenish, Washington. Their courtship developed and they were married in the Seattle Temple July 24, 1987. They resided in Toppenish for 25 years. Clarence worked part time on the farm and helped with their large yard. Clarence became ill with dementia so he and Lois moved to a smaller place in Yakima. Clarence’s illness became more severe and it became necessary on the 13 of May 2011 to move him to Highgate House where he passed away. Clarence is preceded in death by his Father, Mother and his first wife; His brother, William (Virigina) Harris, TX, James (Sally) Harris, CA, sisters Elsie (George) Reynolds, OR, Odessa (Eldon) Garland, WA; great grandson, Ceryne-Joeseph August Alstee, OR and step grandson Benjamin Micah Clayton, WA. He is survived by his wife, Lois Harris, WA, half sister, Margaret(Emerson) Ransier, WA, sister, Mary Francis (Jim) Parks, NV, brother, Harold Norman (Nona) Harris, UT, daughters, Claudia (Richard) Nielson, UT; Louise Sarno, OR, sons, Ronald (Dorothy) Harris, UT, Gregory Harris, UT, stepdaughter, Patsy (Roger) Layman, WA; stepsons, Raymond (Jan) Clayton, Thomas (Vondell) Clayton, James (Karen) Clayton and Charles (Kym) Clayton, 17 grandchildren, 54 great grandchildren, 37 step grandchildren, 34 step great grandchildren and 4 step great great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 AM, Mar 1, 2014 at the LDS church in Toppenish, WA. Viewing will be at 10 AM before the funeral service. Burial will be Mar 4, 2014 at 1 PM in Smithfield, UT at the Smithfield Cemetery. Lois and family wish to thank everyone at Highgate House for their loving care of Clarence while he resided there. Lois would like to thank all her family and friends that have helped her through this difficult time. We would also like to thank the Valley Hills Funeral Home for their help with arrangements. Online tributes can be left at www.valleyhillsfh.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Clarence Harris, please visit our flower store.