Charismatic, resourceful, creative, witty, handsome
Virgil thrived in social settings. His magnetism and accepting nature drew in new friends instantaneously, and he transformed the most mundane circumstances into something extraordinary.
There was always a project going in Virgil’s garage. He was an incredible artisan and woodworker, and because one of his recent passions was motorcycling, he carved the most unbelievably detailed miniature wooden bikes. Virgil’s mastery of carpentry allowed him to quickly and precisely build intricate pieces. His skillful work showcased his creativity and resourcefulness, and he built homes and did many remodeling projects. To top it off, he could draw just about anything. He was an artist, through and through.
Among Virgil’s accomplishments were returning to school to earn his associate’s degree and making the Dean’s List. He was in prison when he was supposed to graduate, and surprisingly, they wouldn’t let him out to attend. He and his brother, John, found the humor in this and laughed and joked about it often. He also helped start a new Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the Northern Utah area. It was called Carry the Message in honor of his friend. Virgil’s Narcotics Anonymous work supported multitudes of people.
His long-term partner, Cindy, was always there for him, no matter what. They had one child together and named him Virgil and two daughters he claimed, Shandi, Jaynee Jarvis. He also had two children, Shandy and Shaine, from his previous marriage to Brenda Wilson.
He loved his family and the outdoors, and the combination produced the most memorable experiences. Virgil had a brother, John, and three sisters, Deb, Judy, and Shelia, and when they were young, their father took them camping and fishing frequently. As they aged, he and his brother continued spending time together in nature and fished every opportunity they got–there was always another fishing trip on the horizon. He spent the rest of his free time bow hunting, camping, and hiking. On a bear hunting trip, John visited Virgil in Alaska, and everything went smoothly until Virgil’s Jeep wouldn’t start, leaving them stranded for days in the remote wilderness. For most, this would have been terrifying, but for the brothers, it was time well spent doing what they loved together. Once, Virgil was playing around, faking like he was going to throw Shaina in the water, when suddenly, he slipped. The act suddenly became reality as the poor five-year-old was pitched into the river. Shaina emerged, drenched and unhappy, but unharmed, and so, the incident became a family joke that kept them laughing through the years.
After a long period of separation, John received an unexpected call from Virgil, saying he was in the neighborhood and wanted to pop by John’s office. He was elated, and they passed the time with pleasant conversation. John commemorated the visit with a picture of Virgil on his motorcycle. Had he known it was the last time he’d see his brother, he might have taken two.
Virgil’s brother, John Harris, provided the information for this narrative. October 29, 1963 – July 28, 2022 – Age 58
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Willow Kline
