Joseph Harryman

Joseph Wesley Harryman, 102, of Saratoga, Wyoming, passed away Oct. 15, 2014. Joe was born in Milner, Idaho on Aug 7, 1912 to William Hezekiah Harryman and Sarah Amanda Bradshaw. He left home at the early age of 6 and worked for various farmers along the Snake River. He graduated from high school in Seattle, Washington. He later contracted Polio and spent 9 months in an Iron Lung. He worked his way down the coast to Southern California where he worked and managed Standard Oil gas stations. He then took advantage of an opportunity to work in Saudi Arabia building housing for the oil field workers, where he was paid in gold coins. Joe became friends with the King of Saudi Arabia, and they hunted Gazelles in the desert. In 1939, he married Ferne Hawley in Richmond, Virginia and honeymooned back to Saudi Arabia where their only child Janet Harryman (Donelan) was born. In 1940, they escaped bombings of WWII and made it safely back to the United States and settled in Brentwood California. Joe and a chemist friend started Olympic Paint and Varnish Company, where Joe thought up the idea of the paint-chip to aid in sales. Unfortunately he never patented the paint chip and never got the credit! Years following he ventured in the businesses of mobile home parks and liquor stores. Joe always enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and walking. After the passing of his wife, Ferne, he relocated to Bend, Oregon and became an avid walker. He competed in the Pilot Butte Challenge Trail Run for many years and still holds the record for the 90+ age group! At the age of 95, he moved to Saratoga, Wyoming to live with his daughter, Janet Donelan. He continued his love of reading but especially fishing, up to the end. He is preceded in death by his parents, 7 sisters and 2 brothers, his wife, Ferne and grandson Randy Donelan. He is survived by his daughter, Janet, 2 sisters, 3 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. Joe almost surpassed his great, great, great, great-grandfather, David Harryman, who lived to be 103, in 1840!