Spencer James Harris, son of John William and Blanch Carrie (Rinehart) Harris, was born on November 8, 1919, in rural Fremont County, Iowa, near Sidney. He passed away on Saturday, April 4, 2009, at the Garden View Care Center in Shenandoah, Iowa, at the age of 89.
Growing up in rural Shenandoah, Spencer attended the Shenandoah Community Schools, graduating from Shenandoah High School with the Class of 1937. Spencer was a farmer his entire life. He had a passion for both livestock (milking cows) and row crop.
On June 17, 1939, in rural Imogene, Iowa, Spencer was united in marriage to Gladys L. Nicholas. To this union three children were born, Raymond, Patricia and Donna. Gladys passed away in March of 1973. Spencer was later united in marriage to Leona Smith on May 28, 1976, at the First Christian Church in Shenandoah.
Spencer was a member of the Iowa Farm Bureau and attended the First Christian Church in Shenandoah. He enjoyed everything associated with farming and watching his grandsons, Trent and Travis wrestle. Plus, he loved being with all his grandchildren and watching them grow. Other highlights were camping with Leona, traveling to Texas for the winter, and traveling with their camper club.
Preceding Spencer in death were his parents; first wife Gladys (Nicholas) Harris; second wife, Leona (Smith) Harris in November of 2003; two brothers, Kenneth and Merle Harris; and three sisters, Mildred Staten, Gladys Billick and Opal Walton.
Survivors include his three children, Raymond Harris and his wife Nancy of Shenandoah, Patricia Honeyman and Donna Harris, both of Omaha, NE; four step-children, Sandra Riley and her husband Lee of Shenandoah, Betty Stanley of Glenwood, IA, Mary Ann Paulson and her husband Nick, and Barbara Padilla and her husband Steve, all of Council Bluffs, IA; 19 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home with Rev. Clark Finehout officiating. Verilee Nicholas attended the memorial register. Special music for the service included "One Day At A Time" and "The Lord's Prayer". Serving as casket bearers were Raymond Harris, Jr., Ronald Harris, David Harris, Stephen Harris, Mark Honeyman and Troy Honeyman. Honorary casket bearers included Bruce Bain, Todd Bain, David Paulson, Travis Paulson, Trent Paulson, Nick Paulson, Steve Padilla and Lee Riley. Burial followed in the Rose Hill Cemetery. The ladies of the First Christian Church served lunch following the burial.