Gordon Harris was born January 11, 1929 at the Victoria Hospital, Yorkton, son of James Henry (Jim) and Mary Beatrice (Sherwin) Harris of Maple Grove Farm south of Yorkton. Gordon attended Pebble Lake School Grade 1 to 8 and took his Grade 9 by correspondence before attending the Yorkton Collegiate Institute. He graduated from Grade 12 in 1947. While attending the YCI he was President of the Seniors Representative Council having won the election by an extensive campaign. He had Tom Inglis fly over Yorkton dropping "Vote for Harris" leaflets! Along with Brent Stewart he organized a parade through downtown Yorkton with Gordon riding a horse and wearing a top hat. He was active in many sports especially curling and was also an Air Cadet. Farming was his passion. He was a hard working, progressive, innovative farmer and due to his father's poor health actually ran the farm from the time he was 15 years old. Maple Grove Farm was a mixed farm, 65 cow/calf herd of Shorthorn cattle, grain, horses, swine, chickens, turkeys, honey bees, and almost an acre of garden. In 1970 the shorthorn herd was gradually replaced with the exotic breed Simmental Cattle. He was a member of the 4H Baby Beef Club at the age of 12 and a 4H Beef Club leader for over 10 years. He often said that everything he learned to do professionally can be traced back to what he learned in the 4H Club. Gordon and Ken Just won the provincial Swine judging competition and won third place at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair in 1948. The same year he competed in the Junior Light Horse Judging Competition in Regina and won. He represented Saskatchewan at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto. He went on to become a Registered Senior Light Horse Judge in 20 or more classes. He judged many prestigious light horse shows across Canada including the Royal Winter Fair in Brandon and the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver on the opening of their new Agrodome in 1963. The University of Saskatchewan Extension Department called on Gordon often to judge 4H Beef & Swine Shows throughout the Province. The Yorkton Agriculture & Industrial Exhibition was another passion of Gordon's life. He was a Junior Director in 1949 and a Senior Director in 1951 bringing his visions and ideas. He organized one of the best light horse shows attracting horses from Manitoba and Saskatchewan. He was responsible for starting the Harness Racing and parimutual betting in 1955. He suggested the Fair Board begin a fall show and the Harvest Showdown was born in 1988. He was a very competitive curler skipping many different teams to victory. If you weren't good he let you know and you were off the team. One of his best teams was skipping his brother, Donald and cousins, George and Ronald Harris. He skipped many a team that competed at the Provincial level. He was Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Chamber of Commerce. He and Norman Roebuck were directors representing Yorkton on the Provincial Western Development Museum Board when the museum was housed at a hanger at the airport and helped plan the building of the present WDM. He married Sheila Mae Linfoot January 16, 1954. Gordon and Merv Phillips were confirmed Anglican at Holy Trinity Church. In 1956. Merv (Sheila's best friend's husband) and Gordon served on the Holy Trinity Vestry and participated in many church events. Gordon and Sheila were blessed with four children. Garry, David, Trent and Sharon. He taught them the value of hard work at a young age but also gave them time to play and enjoy their farm life to the fullest. They were all members of the 4H Beef Club. He believed in raising his children to be independent and follow their dreams. Gordon loved travelling and we had some wonderful trips: honeymoon in Las Vegas and Phoenix, Bermuda, Expo 67 Montreal (with Garry, David, Trent), Switzerland, France, Tunisia, North Africa, England, Belgium, and several trips to West Palm Beach, Florida to visit Gordon's youngest brother Bob, and various places in Canada. The business ventures and many other accomplishments he and Sheila shared are too numerous to mention. Gordon and Sheila moved into Yorkton in 1990. 4th Generation Garry his wife, Lee (nee Kozachenko) and their four children moved to Maple Grove Farm. Gordon enjoyed his retirement playing bridge, teaching his grandchildren crib, reading, gardening, attending his gold fish in the pond/aquarium, and coffee time with his buddies. He was predeceased by his parents, Jim and Beatrice and his brother, Lloyd. Gordon leaves to celebrate his life: his wife, Sheila; his children, Garry, David , Trent and Sharon and their spouses; his sisters, Jean, California and Doreen, Port Alberni, B.C; his brothers, Donald, Yorkton and Robert, West Palm Beach, Florida; his twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren many relatives and friends. He lived a good life, with much love of his family and friends. Each of you have your own memories of how Gordon touched your life and each will surely have many stories to share. A Memorial Service was held on Saturday, January 4, 2013 from Holy Trinity Anglican Church with Reverend Luanne Hrywkiw officiating, assisted by Reverend Ken Buchan. The organist, Judy Berg, led the congregation in the singing of the hymns, Good King Wenceslas, We Plough the Fields and Scatter, Joyful, Joyful and The Nunc Dimittis. The scriptures were read by David Harris and Trent Harris. The Cremation Committal followed in the Holy Trinity Anglican Church Columbarium with Shane Anthony Harris serving as the urn bearer. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
Perhaps you sent a lovely card,
Or sat quietly in a chair.
Perhaps you sent a funeral spray,
If so we saw it there.
Perhaps you spoke the kindest words,
As any friend could say;
Perhaps you were not there at all,
Just thought of us that day,
Whatever you did to console our hearts,
We thank you so much whatever the part.
-The Harris Family
