Alexander Marvin Pharris

Alexander “Alex” Marvin Pharris, 44, of Aberdeen, SD, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2024.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the Richmond Pavilion, 12805 S Shore Drive, Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Alexander Marvin Pharris was born on April 17, 1980, in Gregory, South Dakota, to Bryan and Cindy (Holmquist) Pharris, and lived in Winner, SD, home to the renowned Pharris family bakery. The family lived for a short time in the Black Hills and, in 1986, settled in Aberdeen. Alex attended O. M. Tiffany, Holgate Junior High, and Central High School, graduating with the Class of 1999. Despite spending his fair share of time in the penalty box, playing hockey has held a special place in Alex’s heart since his youth.

In 1999, he ventured to Kansas City, where he mastered the trade of carpentry. Thankfully returning to Aberdeen in 2008, he dedicated nine years to Quest Construction until an accident in 2018 left him effectively disabled, having crushed both of his heels.

Alex had a deep-seated passion for collecting, especially antique lamps, which he lovingly restored with great skill for gifts and simple display. But his talents extended far beyond restoration work; he delighted in creating projects that brought joy and laughter to his family and friends. Whether it was building a zipline for his nieces and nephews on a camping summer adventure, or materializing fantastical inventions like potato guns and giant fire Jenga, Alex was the imaginative spark behind the fun. Most recently, he renovated his home’s upstairs bathtub into a walk-in shower to improve his 99-year-old grandmother’s quality of life. His inventive spirit and ability to bring ideas to life were cherished by everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Everyone close to Alex knew how big his heart was and how eager he was to lend a helping hand; he’d give the shirt off of his back to anyone, even if he was freezing. At the time of his passing, Alex was working on his own business project doing just that; Helping Hands, a non-profit organization, dedicated to assisting the elderly, disabled, or indigent. He was extremely passionate about this endeavor.

Survived by his two daughters, Laine and Ariya, aged 20 and 6 respectively, Alex is remembered fondly. He is also survived and will be greatly missed by his mother, Cindy Pharris of Aberdeen; maternal grandmother, Doreen Holmquist of Aberdeen; sisters Brooke (Pharris) Meyers of Aberdeen and Bridget (Pharris) Schilling of Ramsey, Minnesota; along with numerous uncles and aunts, friends, and nieces and nephews spanning ages 6 to 22. Alex will forever be in the heart of his significant other, Ila Roelfs.

He was preceded in death by his father Bryan, and his elder brother Nicholas.