Leila Harris

POCATELLO - Leila A. (Davis) Harris, 92, passed away on Tuesday, November 13 at Emeritus at Highland Hills with family by her side. She was born on September 26, 1920 in McCammon, Idaho to Claude C. Davis and Mary Hansen Davis. One of six sisters, she was raised in the McCammon area and attended high school there where she was chosen for many honors including Secretary and Vice President of the Student Body, Carnival Queen, Green and Gold Ball Queen and was named Valedictorian of her graduating class in 1938. She also excelled in many sports during her high school years including girls basketball and track. She broke the Invitation Track Record in the broad jump at the BYU Invitational Track Meet during her junior year to become eligible to enter the 1936 Regional Olympic Tryouts in Salt Lake City. After success in Utah, she went on to the final Olympic Tryouts in Providence, Rhode Island at the age of 15. She injured her leg during her event and her Olympic dreams were dashed. Leila anticipated having another chance at the 1940 Olympic Games but because of World War II, they were not held again for 12 years. Leila always had a love of learning and wanted to be a school teacher from an early age. She attended the University of Idaho to earn her teaching degree in Elementary Education and signed a teaching contract to teach first grade in McCammon at the age of 19. Her youngest sister Joan was in her class. She went back to college in 1955 to receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education at Idaho State College. Leila went on to teach for 33 years in the Pocatello School District, mainly at Greenacres Elementary where she taught first and fourth grades. She never got tired of regaling her family with stories about "her kids at school." In 1961, Leila became a charter member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary sorority for women educators. She served as chapter Treasurer, State Vice-President and went on to become State President in 1970. She also became a Life Member of the National Education Association in 1970 and was selected as a Leader in Elementary Education for 1971. She married George F. Harris on June 4, 1941, in the Logan, Utah, LDS Temple. They made their home in Pocatello where George worked for the UPRR Railroad until their mutual retirements in 1980. They had three children, Karen, Randy, and Debra. Leila loved to cook and her chocolate cakes, ground raisin cookies and Parker House rolls were famous in family circles. She also enjoyed visits with friends and family, knitting, crocheting, quilting, and gardening, particularly tending to her rose gardens. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three sisters and two grandchildren. She is survived by one son, Randy (Jeanne Seal) Harris, Pocatello, Idaho; Karen (Gene) Moore, Bountiful, Utah; and Debra Harris and partner Patrick Face, Pocatello, Idaho; along with two older sisters, seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, November 17 at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. Fourth Avenue. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the services. Burial will follow at Norton Cemetary in McCammon, Idaho following a family luncheon. The family would like to thank Emeritus at Highland Hills and Idaho Home Health & Hospice for their compassionate care and heartfelt support.