Bryan Harris, Jr.

Bryan Harris Jr. passed away July 27, 2023, in Twin Falls. He was born November 10, 1931, to Bryan Harris and Frances (O’Harrow) Harris. Bryan lived in Eden, Idaho until moving as a young child to the Sampson Brothers Farm near Hansen, Idaho. While he was young, he contracted polio from which he recovered but it affected one of his legs. Despite that he was able to stay physically active all his life. He attended school at Hansen High School except for 2 years at the end of WWII when the high school students were bussed to Twin Falls High due to a teacher shortage. For Bryan, school provided great opportunities for mischief. In Twin he rushed from class to play pool for "long" lunches. Later back at HHS was also a time to learn the angles of how far he and his classmates could throw their geometry books out the window while their teacher was on a bathroom break. Football and basketball were two of his favorite sports, and his football team won the Southside championship in his senior year. Bryan eventually graduated in 1949 to pursue his true love--farming. He rented a farm and raised crops and livestock on his own at age 17. Though now a working adult, he was not without a little mischief here and there. One exploit happened in the era when grain was threshed with stationary machines. He and his friend were aware that the man running the machine had strict rules about how much grain should be fed into the machine at any one time. Bryan thought it would be fun if he and his friend had a little game to see who could throw in the most grain the fastest and win the trophy of the man's excitement. The way Bryan told it was that he won by receiving the greatest scolding. Bryan grew older and appeared to be content as a bachelor. But His friends Art and Pat Baily had other ideas. Pat’s niece mentioned a new single Home-Ec teacher at Murtaugh and set him up with Shirley Harris (no relation). Soon the farmers in the Hansen area noticed him leaving the farm in the evenings for Twin Falls. Bryan married Shirley in 1961, and they raised three children on their farm East of Hansen. Bryan loved his children, and they all grew up farming alongside him. He enjoyed watching his children's sports games, had them grow up raising livestock for 4-H, and pushed them to work hard and respect others, a legacy that has lasted to this day. They also spent time canoeing, golfing, and snowmobiling. They especially enjoyed the cabin in the South Hills and spent many winter and summer weekends there. Bryan loved to travel and throughout his life, he was able to visit all 50 states with Shirley, and many of them with his children. In mid-July farming season of 1978, he and his family took a cross-country trip to Boston--home to one of his favorite teams, the Celtics. Bryan was also able to visit several other countries but was always to come back home to the farm in Hansen, the land he loved. Bryan served several years on the Hansen School Board and the Twin Falls Canal Board. He spent most early mornings at the Hansen Café talking to his fellow farmers about the weather, crop prices, the latest farming equipment, and Hansen athletics. After his son Bob returned from his California “hiatus”, he joined him in these discussions and began farming alongside him. Shirley passed away in 2009 after 48 years of marriage, and Bryan entered a new season of his life. He married Dixie DeRoshia in 2012 and gained two new friends in Dixie's daughter Lee Ann and son-in-law Don. Dixie and Bryan spent a lot of time together--traveling the country, touring the farm, and spending time with Bryan's children and grandchildren. After Dixie passed away in 2020, Bryan found companionship with lifelong friend Vera Reed. Bryan always had a twinkle in his bright blue eyes and a small smile on his face that anyone who knew him will always remember. He was loved and respected by many in the Southern Idaho farming community, and he will be deeply missed. His parents, wife Shirley, wife Dixie and many close friends preceded him in death. Surviving are his children, grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Daughter Sheryl (Kelly) VerWey of Hansen and their children Travis Martin, Kallie (Kit) Carney, Ryan VerWey (Hannah Long), Brianne (Yates) Ralls, Haydden Bowman-VerWey and Mallori (Ben) Templeton. Daughter Elva (Rick) McNurlin of Hansen and their children Kelly (Jason) Saldana and Alex (Brooke) McNurlin. Son Robert/Bob (Meile) Harris of Hansen and their children Blake (Amber) Harris, Taylor, Jenna (Holden) Montgomery and Danya (Cecil) Peters. Great-grandchildren Madilyn Veenendaal, Austen Martin, Kennedy Carney, Brooklyn VerWey, Jaeleigh Veenendaal, Paul Carney, Emmalyn VerWey, Victoria Clark, Kendrick Ralls, Callen Ralls, Beckum Harris, D’Artangnan VerWey, Berkley Harris, and Everett Montgomery. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 19 at Wilks (formerly Parks) Magic Valley Funeral Home in Twin Falls. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Hansen Schools and Hansen Community Library.