Elvira Ruiz

REX HARRIS Click here to view a video of Rex's life AMMON, ID -- Alva Rex Harris, 84, passed away on February 26, 2008, at his home on his farm near Ammon. He died peacefully with his family after a short affliction with cancer. He was born in Sugar City, Idaho, February 22, 1924, to Alta S. and Alva C. Harris, the oldest of five children. He grew up in the Sugar City, Teton, and Rexburg area, graduating from Madison High School in Rexburg. In 1941, he was drafted into the army, serving in the military police at the Presidio in San Francisco and later in the cavalry mounted police assigned to the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. It was here he met the love of his life, a secretary to the Los Alamos scientists working on the top secret atomic bomb, Josephine Julius from New Jersey. They married September 5, 1945. After their discharge from the Army at the end of the war, he worked as a physics research technician at Los Alamos Laboratory. He brought his new wife to Idaho to live in Sugar City and Rexburg, where Rex served as a fireman and on the Rexburg police force. In 1951, he was one of the first recruited to work at the Naval Reactor Testing Facility at the Idaho National Engineering Lab for Westinghouse. The family moved to Idaho Falls and he began his career with Westinghouse as a special investigator, followed by several administrative positions. He retired from Westinghouse in 1982 after 31 years. Rex's dream was always to farm and ranch. He leased farmland in the Ammon area for many years in the 1960s, on which he produced alfalfa for the beginnings of his herd of registered herefords. He bought a 40-acre parcel near Ammon where he farmed and raised his hereford breeding stock, eventually building their dream home on the property and moving from Idaho Falls in 1967. Rex was active in the community, serving in many capacities with Idaho Falls Elks Lodge 1087, Bonneville Cattle Association and SCORE. He is a past Exalted Ruler of the Elks and served for many years as a trustee of the lodge and as a state officer, remaining active with the lodge until his passing. Surviving are his two daughters, Patricia (Patty) Miner of Parker, Colorado, and Laurie Harris Mauser of Bayview, Idaho, and five grandchildren: Jane Ellen Mauser of Glacier, Washington, Brandie Miner Munsey and Shaun Miner of Parker, Colorado, Heather Miner Shauers of Aurora, Colorado and Laura Miner of Denver. His great-grandchildren are Logan and Dallin Munsey, Sarah, Hannah, Tamma, and Rebecca Miner. He had many lifelong friends who were important and meaningful to him. He was loved by many and will be remembered for his quick sense of humor and pension for kidding - but was always ready to help a friend. If a person is measured by the number of friends and those who loved him, he is a giant. Thank you to all who were concerned for his well-being, especially in his later years, especially the staffs at Perkin's where he enjoyed breakfast every day and lunch every day at Sizzler, as well as "the guys" at the Elks who were always there. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, 2008, at Wood Funeral Home East Side 963 South Ammon Road, with Steve Miner officiating. The family will visit with friends Friday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 to 10:45 a.m., both at Wood East Side. Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery. Military Rites will be performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and the Idaho Honor Guard. The family suggests memorial donations in his name to the Elks Rehabilitation Center, 600 North Robbins Road, Boise, ID 83702 ------------------------------------ Condolences received online: Aimee Harrigfeld My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. I am so grateful to you for the opportunity to work with your dad. Our family has really grown to love Rex and he will be missed. He became quite a good friend to me even if I was known as "that girl." I am glad to know that he is with his Jo again. He loved her so much, and I loved to hear his stories of her and your family. Thank you again . . . Love, Aimee Scott Peterson petersor@d93.k12.id.us I am truly saddened to hear that Rex had passed. I had the opportunity to know Rex these last 4 or 5 years having breakfast with him at Perkins. I am glad that I got to hear his "stories", experience his sense of humor and realize what a special person he was. I am very blessed and fortunate to have Rex touch and impact my life, and I am going to miss my breakfast buddy a lot.