Marvin J. Harris was born on June 1, 1945 in Pueblo, Colorado to Earl and Vera Harris. He grew up in Karval, Colorado where he graduated from Karval High School in 1964. He was drafted to the Army in 1966 but enlisted to the Air Force and reported on June 1, 1966. He married Sherly Johns on July 12, 1969. He was discharged from the Air Force on May 26, 1972. Marvin was a farmer and rancher and the owner of Harris Pump and Backhoe.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Vera Harris, sisters, Phyllis, and Cheryl and his brothers, Bruce, Denny, and Jay. He is survived by his four kids, Kenny, Karen (Stan), Kevin (Margaret), and Megan, his grandchildren, Shawn, Heath, Kashley (Cody), Maggie (Adam), Marissa, Junior, Kira, Kayla, Konnor, Matthew, and his two great grandchildren, Sadie and Layne. He is also survived by his sister Maxine Wezel, and brother Ray Harris.