Being honored by scores of friends and relatives is Mrs. Eunice W. Harris, Woodruff, who recently celebrated her 85th birthday. 

Mrs. Harris, a daughter of George and Eunice Nicholas Ward, was born January 29, 1873, at Curlew Valley. In 1875 her family moved to Woodruff where she has made her home all her life.  

She was married to Robert W. Harris, January 12, 1896, at Woodruff. Later the same year they received their Endowments in the Salt Lake Temple. 

They are the parents of three sons, two of whom survive. George Ellis Harris and Morgan W. Harris. She has nine grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. 

After the death of her husband on May 23, 1905, Mrs. Harris lived for several years with her mother and helped rear six of her 13 brothers and sisters. A niece was also reared in the Ward home. 

Mrs. Harris is a member of the LDS Church and has been active in church work all her life. She was set apart as secretary of the Primary Association at the age of 12 when the Primary was first organized in her Ward. She began serving as a Relief Society Visiting Teacher in 1903 and she has held positions in that organization continuously since that time. She was Ward Relief Society president for 21 years. At present she is the oldest visiting teacher in the Malad Stake. 

The MIA has also received the benefit of her service and guidance. She is a past president and first counselor. In later years she has been active in genealogy work.  

Both of her sons have served as Ward Bishop and one grandson is fulfilling a mission in Australia. 

Industry and cheerfulness have characterized the life of Mrs. Harris. She recalls the hard labor of her youth when she helped milk 20 cows. She churned the butter and sold 70 pounds each week to the stores in Malad. She also sold cheese and soap. She made all their clothing, quilts and woolen quilt balls. These were just some of the things she made entirely at home. 

She recalls standing as a little child and watching her father threshing grain by driving a horse over the threshing floor. In the summer of 1877 the grasshoppers ate the entire crop and her father was forced to leave home and work on the railroad to provide for his family. 

Mrs. Harris expresses the belief that with the help of all our modern conveniences, there is no excuse for any person to shirk their duties to their church and community. 

When asked if she had learned any worthwhile lessons from her 85 years of living, she said, “ Yes, I have learned that happiness can be found in doing the best you can with what you have.”     

Published in the Idaho Enterprise, Thursday, February 6, 1958.