Evan Jay Harris was born to John Evan Harris and Sarah "Sadie" Maria Tolley on 6 August 1912 in Mona, Juab County, Utah. He went by his middle name "Jay" his whole life. Jay was the second oldest of six children that were born to John Evan and Sadie Harris. His only brother Charles died just days before he would have turned 14 years old.
Jay learned to work hard on the family farm and also learned the skill of road construction. Through his work, he helped pave many new roads throughout Southern Utah, Nevada, and Northern California. He kept this career throughout his whole life.
On March 8, 1935, Jay drove his father's car with a load of boys and girls to Spanish Fork to a dance. At this particular dance, he met a beautiful girl that would become his wife two months later. On 23 May 1935, Jay Harris married Margaret Christensen in the Salt Lake City Court House in Utah. Margaret's full name was Helen Margaret Christensen. She was called Helen until she was four years old. Margaret and her parents moved to a new home, and the girl across the street was the same age as Margaret and her name was Helen too. So to keep things uncomplicated, the two mothers decided that Helen Margaret Christensen will be called Margaret, since the other Helen didn't have a middle name.
Jay and Margaret had to move around a lot for a while with his job in road construction. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Their first born Kenneth Harris passed away in 1995.
In 1946, Jay was drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He missed his family terribly and even wrote a poem about his family during that time. But he faithfully fulfilled his duties and was able to go home to his beautiful wife and kids.
Jay and Margaret decided to settle in Grass Valley, California on Squirrel Creek Road. Their first home on that property was a log cabin. Over time, Jay added on to the log cabin, and then added interior walls, and fixed the exterior of the house, until it no longer looked like a log cabin. They had many acres and enjoyed keeping a large garden there, as well as, some cows, chickens, and a few other animals. They had many happy memories with their children and grandchildren in this home.
Jay had built on his property a small little house for his widowed mother to live in. Jay and Margaret's children enjoyed having their grandmother really close. Jay's mother Sadie (Tolley) Harris lived old enough to be alive to see many of Jay's grandchildren (which would be her great-grandchildren). For many years, Jay's sister Aleta also lived with Sadie in that little house too.
Jay Harris was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a Bishop for many, many years. Towards the end of his life, he was a Stake Patriarch. Jay and Margaret touched many lives there in Grass Valley, and was respected by many.
Towards the last few years of his life, Jay's health got worse. He developed Alzheimer's disease and struggled with not remembering much. His wife Margaret faithfully stood by his side morning, noon, and night taking care of him. The love between the two was very strong. On 9 June 1987, Jay Harris passed away, leaving many loved ones grieving. He was an amazing man, husband, father, and grandfather. His grandchildren will always remember him as a fun and loving grandfather that loved to play games with them and give lots of hugs. The memories that his surviving family have of him will always be treasured.
~ Written by Jay's granddaughter Rachelle Humble.
Jay learned to work hard on the family farm and also learned the skill of road construction. Through his work, he helped pave many new roads throughout Southern Utah, Nevada, and Northern California. He kept this career throughout his whole life.
On March 8, 1935, Jay drove his father's car with a load of boys and girls to Spanish Fork to a dance. At this particular dance, he met a beautiful girl that would become his wife two months later. On 23 May 1935, Jay Harris married Margaret Christensen in the Salt Lake City Court House in Utah. Margaret's full name was Helen Margaret Christensen. She was called Helen until she was four years old. Margaret and her parents moved to a new home, and the girl across the street was the same age as Margaret and her name was Helen too. So to keep things uncomplicated, the two mothers decided that Helen Margaret Christensen will be called Margaret, since the other Helen didn't have a middle name.
Jay and Margaret had to move around a lot for a while with his job in road construction. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Their first born Kenneth Harris passed away in 1995.
In 1946, Jay was drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He missed his family terribly and even wrote a poem about his family during that time. But he faithfully fulfilled his duties and was able to go home to his beautiful wife and kids.
Jay and Margaret decided to settle in Grass Valley, California on Squirrel Creek Road. Their first home on that property was a log cabin. Over time, Jay added on to the log cabin, and then added interior walls, and fixed the exterior of the house, until it no longer looked like a log cabin. They had many acres and enjoyed keeping a large garden there, as well as, some cows, chickens, and a few other animals. They had many happy memories with their children and grandchildren in this home.
Jay had built on his property a small little house for his widowed mother to live in. Jay and Margaret's children enjoyed having their grandmother really close. Jay's mother Sadie (Tolley) Harris lived old enough to be alive to see many of Jay's grandchildren (which would be her great-grandchildren). For many years, Jay's sister Aleta also lived with Sadie in that little house too.
Jay Harris was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a Bishop for many, many years. Towards the end of his life, he was a Stake Patriarch. Jay and Margaret touched many lives there in Grass Valley, and was respected by many.
Towards the last few years of his life, Jay's health got worse. He developed Alzheimer's disease and struggled with not remembering much. His wife Margaret faithfully stood by his side morning, noon, and night taking care of him. The love between the two was very strong. On 9 June 1987, Jay Harris passed away, leaving many loved ones grieving. He was an amazing man, husband, father, and grandfather. His grandchildren will always remember him as a fun and loving grandfather that loved to play games with them and give lots of hugs. The memories that his surviving family have of him will always be treasured.
~ Written by Jay's granddaughter Rachelle Humble.
Evan Jay Harris was born to John Evan Harris and Sarah "Sadie" Maria Tolley on 6 August 1912 in Mona, Juab County, Utah. He went by his middle name "Jay" his whole life. Jay was the second oldest of six children that were born to John Evan and Sadie Harris. His only brother Charles died just days before he would have turned 14 years old.
Jay learned to work hard on the family farm and also learned the skill of road construction. Through his work, he helped pave many new roads throughout Southern Utah, Nevada, and Northern California. He kept this career throughout his whole life.
On March 8, 1935, Jay drove his father's car with a load of boys and girls to Spanish Fork to a dance. At this particular dance, he met a beautiful girl that would become his wife two months later. On 23 May 1935, Jay Harris married Margaret Christensen in the Salt Lake City Court House in Utah. Margaret's full name was Helen Margaret Christensen. She was called Helen until she was four years old. Margaret and her parents moved to a new home, and the girl across the street was the same age as Margaret and her name was Helen too. So to keep things uncomplicated, the two mothers decided that Helen Margaret Christensen will be called Margaret, since the other Helen didn't have a middle name.
Jay and Margaret had to move around a lot for a while with his job in road construction. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Their first born Kenneth Harris passed away in 1995.
In 1946, Jay was drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He missed his family terribly and even wrote a poem about his family during that time. But he faithfully fulfilled his duties and was able to go home to his beautiful wife and kids.
Jay and Margaret decided to settle in Grass Valley, California on Squirrel Creek Road. Their first home on that property was a log cabin. Over time, Jay added on to the log cabin, and then added interior walls, and fixed the exterior of the house, until it no longer looked like a log cabin. They had many acres and enjoyed keeping a large garden there, as well as, some cows, chickens, and a few other animals. They had many happy memories with their children and grandchildren in this home.
Jay had built on his property a small little house for his widowed mother to live in. Jay and Margaret's children enjoyed having their grandmother really close. Jay's mother Sadie (Tolley) Harris lived old enough to be alive to see many of Jay's grandchildren (which would be her great-grandchildren). For many years, Jay's sister Aleta also lived with Sadie in that little house too.
Jay Harris was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a Bishop for many, many years. Towards the end of his life, he was a Stake Patriarch. Jay and Margaret touched many lives there in Grass Valley, and was respected by many.
Towards the last few years of his life, Jay's health got worse. He developed Alzheimer's disease and struggled with not remembering much. His wife Margaret faithfully stood by his side morning, noon, and night taking care of him. The love between the two was very strong. On 9 June 1987, Jay Harris passed away, leaving many loved ones grieving. He was an amazing man, husband, father, and grandfather. His grandchildren will always remember him as a fun and loving grandfather that loved to play games with them and give lots of hugs. The memories that his surviving family have of him will always be treasured.
~ Written by Jay's granddaughter Rachelle Humble.
Jay learned to work hard on the family farm and also learned the skill of road construction. Through his work, he helped pave many new roads throughout Southern Utah, Nevada, and Northern California. He kept this career throughout his whole life.
On March 8, 1935, Jay drove his father's car with a load of boys and girls to Spanish Fork to a dance. At this particular dance, he met a beautiful girl that would become his wife two months later. On 23 May 1935, Jay Harris married Margaret Christensen in the Salt Lake City Court House in Utah. Margaret's full name was Helen Margaret Christensen. She was called Helen until she was four years old. Margaret and her parents moved to a new home, and the girl across the street was the same age as Margaret and her name was Helen too. So to keep things uncomplicated, the two mothers decided that Helen Margaret Christensen will be called Margaret, since the other Helen didn't have a middle name.
Jay and Margaret had to move around a lot for a while with his job in road construction. They had five children, three boys and two girls. Their first born Kenneth Harris passed away in 1995.
In 1946, Jay was drafted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He missed his family terribly and even wrote a poem about his family during that time. But he faithfully fulfilled his duties and was able to go home to his beautiful wife and kids.
Jay and Margaret decided to settle in Grass Valley, California on Squirrel Creek Road. Their first home on that property was a log cabin. Over time, Jay added on to the log cabin, and then added interior walls, and fixed the exterior of the house, until it no longer looked like a log cabin. They had many acres and enjoyed keeping a large garden there, as well as, some cows, chickens, and a few other animals. They had many happy memories with their children and grandchildren in this home.
Jay had built on his property a small little house for his widowed mother to live in. Jay and Margaret's children enjoyed having their grandmother really close. Jay's mother Sadie (Tolley) Harris lived old enough to be alive to see many of Jay's grandchildren (which would be her great-grandchildren). For many years, Jay's sister Aleta also lived with Sadie in that little house too.
Jay Harris was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was a Bishop for many, many years. Towards the end of his life, he was a Stake Patriarch. Jay and Margaret touched many lives there in Grass Valley, and was respected by many.
Towards the last few years of his life, Jay's health got worse. He developed Alzheimer's disease and struggled with not remembering much. His wife Margaret faithfully stood by his side morning, noon, and night taking care of him. The love between the two was very strong. On 9 June 1987, Jay Harris passed away, leaving many loved ones grieving. He was an amazing man, husband, father, and grandfather. His grandchildren will always remember him as a fun and loving grandfather that loved to play games with them and give lots of hugs. The memories that his surviving family have of him will always be treasured.
~ Written by Jay's granddaughter Rachelle Humble.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
