Dr. Edward J. Bris, age 82, formerly of New Plymouth, Idaho peacefully passed away of natural causes at his home in Nampa, Idaho on January 8, 2018. He was born in Paris, France on May 28, 1935. His parents were Fernand and Barbara Bris. When the German’s were invading France, he, his mother and younger sister returned to the United States taking an ocean liner from Portugal to Boston, Massachusetts the birth place of his mother.
The family then moved to Los Angeles, California where he began his education. He attended elementary school at California Military Academy in Los Angeles, then Menlo School in Palo Alto, California for middle school and high school. Because of the many summer camps he attended in his youth, he fell in love with the country and animals and attained a BS degree in Animal Husbandry from Cal Poly University in San Luis Obispo, California.
His career began working for American Cyanamid Company working with many veterinarians in Portland, Oregon. After several years working in Portland, he returned to Los Angeles where he met his wife Patricia. They were married on May 12, 1962 at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church and had 55 happy years together. Soon after they were married, they moved to Pullman, Washington where he was a graduate student working on a Master’s and a PhD Degree in Ruminant Nutrition at Washington State University. He had a 12 month research assistantship and his wife worked at the university as Secretary to the Dean of the College of Home Economics. During this time at WSU, he co-authored many articles on numerous research projects. Upon his graduation, the family moved to Kansas where he was a nutritionist for PayWay Feed Company. The family later moved to Solvang, California where Ed worked for the Santa Ynez Research Farm as a certified animal nutritionist consultant traveling throughout the United States. A wonderful opportunity arose for the family, numbering four at this time, to relocate to Lovelock, Nevada where he was a partner and officer for the Nevada Supplement Company formulating feeds for cattle, sheep, etc. Many of these specialized feeding supplements were shipped internationally. He was in this position for over 20 years before retiring. During the time living in Lovelock, he served on the Pershing County School Board, managed the Little League Program for many years, helped to judge 4-H and FFA members on numerous work days and was a great mentor for these young people. Anything involving young people was a personal love of his. After retiring, and both children in college, he and his wife moved to New Plymouth, Idaho where they purchased a ranch and raised Angus cattle. Their cattle buyer told everyone that Ed raised the best cattle on the least amount of land than anyone he knew. This was his love and this love continued for 17 years. After a long and very successful career in the cattle industry, he and his wife decided to finally fully retire and downsize to Nampa, Idaho.
His parents and sister, Barbara Ann Bris Rush preceded him in death. Remaining family members include his wife, Patty, daughter Jennifer Tuttle of Nampa, Idaho, son Michael (Michelle) Bris of Reno, Nevada, cousin Suzanne (Dick) Daily of Pittsboro, North Carolina, brother-in-law Noel (Sharon) Trout of Irvine, California, grandchildren Zoe Tuttle, Elizabeth Tuttle, Eric Bris and Madison Bris, and many nieces and nephews. He led a full and interesting life and will be missed not only by his family but also by everyone who knew him.
A memorial service was held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Plymouth Congregational Church in New Plymouth, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to the Plymouth Congregational Church, PO Box 5, New Plymouth, Idaho 83655 or to a charity of your choice. Cremation was under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel. Condolences can be made to Ed’s family at www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
