Edward C. Harris

Edward C. Harris was born on November 16, 1906 in Loa, Wayne County, Utah a son of Charles and Orilla Okerlund Harris.

He graduated from Bicknell High School in Wayne County and Snow College in Ephraim, then later attended Summers at Brigham Young University and atUtah State until he got his degree. He graduated from Heninger Business College.

Ed taught school in Box Elder County and came to Grouse Creek as Principal of the school. At that time there was nearly 400 people in the community. The school enrollment was 122 students. There were twenty-two first graders that year. That first year the Sophomore Swing was started. Also, a yearbook was introduced. He boarded with Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Barlow. He figured she cooked 2,165 meals for him the three years.

Oren Kimber, School Teacher, Ed Harris, Myrl Hadfield & Emily Kimber

Ed made this statement about his impression of Grouse Creek:  “The community and the people of Grouse Creek were impressive, and reminded me of a few lines that read: ‘And when the stars above are gleaming and the night birds sleepily call, there come a peaceful feeling that God is over all.’”  “It was very near as God created it, no cement streets or electric lights. Just good people who had tilled the ground and were proud of the heritage, realizing that they were the benefactors of hardships endured and overcame by the pioneers. There are few words that best describe the people of Grouse Creek; unity, harmony, cooperation, industrious, concern for the welfare of each other, and sincerity.”  “Parents took time to show their children how to do various tasks that they might later employ to make a living. They took time to correct and time to praise.”

Sylvano Siegfield, Ed Harris & Elda Nielsen

After teaching at Grouse Creek for three years he then went to Bear River High School where he taught for fifteen years, then left teaching and worked for the State of Utah with the Employment Security office in Ogden from 1935 until his retirement in 1965.

He married Pearl Douglas on December 31, 1932 in Ogden, Utah. The marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

They were the parents of one son, Charles.

He had been a scoutmaster, taught Sunday School and Mutual in Grouse Creek.

After retirement they spent quite a lot of time in Grouse Creek where he was a member of the Grouse Creek Ward.

He was a member of the Ogden Elks Lodge. He passed away on June 14,1984 in Ogden, Utah, of heart failure and was buried in the Grouse Creek Cemetery.