Jay Dee Harris

Jay Dee Harris, 89, died September 24, 2006 in his home in Tremonton. He was born April 25, 1917, in Tremonton, Box Elder County, Utah to Joseph Daniel and Mary Maria Waldron Harris. He was the youngest of nine children. He started his business career early when he was assigned to run the family owned gas station at the age of 14. He would open it every morning, run it until one of the bus drivers came to relieve him so he could go to school, and after athletics he would return to the station and work until closing.
He loved sports and lettered in tennis, basketball and track. He was a pole vaulter and held the state and region record at the time of his graduation. His region record stood for 27 years.
He married his high school sweetheart, Alice Christopherson, on September 11, 1935, in the Logan LDS Temple. They just celebrated their 71st anniversary. They spent their life working, serving, giving, worshipping, and playing, but always together.
After their marriage, he sold and delivered wholesale gas to the farmers in the area. He did not consider them customers, but special friends.
He went into the truck and automobile dealership business and from there moved on to large construction equipment. He owned and operated Harris Truck & Equipment, the largest equipment sales and leasing company in the western United States.
He served on the Board of Directors for First Security Corporation and the Community Banking Board for Wells Fargo Bank, where he made life long friends. He was known as the ?Tremonton Kid.?
He was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where his service included bishopric, stake high priest group leader, high council, stake president, priest advisor and home teacher.
He served on the Board of Trustees for the Utah State University. He was on the State Board of Regents for all of Utah?s universities and colleges and was on the Board of Fellows for Southern Utah University. He received two honorary doctorates.
Through his life nothing was more important than his Alice and their family. They were blessed with two children: Matthew J. Mary Harris and Christy Lynn Richards. They were and still are the center of his universe. His universe did expand to include ten grandchildren: Karen, Lynn Jay, William Dirk, Nicholas Rex, Camille, David Ross, Timothy Craig, Zachary Joel, Rachael Anne, and Nathaniel A. He also has 17 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by is son, Matthew J., his parents, his brothers: LaMar, Roy, Londy, Vernal, Lloyd, Deloris, and Reed; one sister, Ruby; and one great grandson, Carson Drew Richards.
We as a family cannot find words to thank the Hospice crew who have been such a special part of our lives: Carol, Raelynn, Sean; our homecare angels: Vickie Archibald, Cathy Ogden, Brenda Reno; Dr. Rodney Merrell, the Care Center and everyone who has made his life ?High on the Hog.?
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 28, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tremonton, Utah Stake Center, 660 North 300 East, Tremonton, conducted by Bishop David Lasley of the Tremonton 13th Ward. There will be a viewing at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home, 111 North 100 East, Tremonton from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 27, and from 9:00-10:30 a.m. on Thursday. Interment at Tremonton Riverview Cemetery.