Barbara Harris

Barbara Wheat Harris

Our sweet and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother Barbara Wheat Harris, passed away peacefully, at the age of 90, surrounded by her family, on November 6, 2022.

Barbara was born on December 11, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the eldest of two girls, to James L. and Ellen Forward Wheat.

Our mom was swept off her feet when she was working at Fernwood’s Ice Cream Shop. One day a tall, dark, handsome man named Arthur W. Harris walked into the shop with a good buddy, and then proclaimed, “See that girl over there at the end of the counter? I’m gonna marry her one day.” The rest, they say, is history. They were married on January 5, 1951; and were later sealed in the Logan LDS Temple. They were married for 64 years and are the parents of four daughters.

Barbara spent her formative years growing up in the East Millcreek area. She was able to develop many talents in theater and music. She sang with The Allegro Women’s Chorus under the baton of A. Burt Keddington. She served as the Ward Music Leader and Choir Director for many years in various wards. She and her husband served in the Jordan River Temple.

Mom and Dad loved to travel, and many of his work assignments took them overseas. They lived in Italy, England, Brazil, and Australia. The bucket list trip of a lifetime was taking an African Safari with our dad. They were fascinated by the wild animals of Kenya, the gorgeous countryside, and the warm and friendly tribal members!

Barbara loved animals of all types. While raising her family, she was often the mediator between the girls and their dad in how many animals they could bring home. She loved them all, but her last little dog, Lily, held a special place in the hearts of both mom and dad!

Barbara was a very devoted and loving wife, mom, and grandmother. We were all the recipients of the selfless love and effort that she put into taking care of Dad while following him around the world. On top of that, she raised four daughters and did an excellent job in making sure that they were happy and healthy, while being raised overseas. Her love of education was a priority in her home, as she had to learn and assist in teaching a couple of foreign languages. She became self-taught in learning computers and only on occasion would call up her grandson, Brian Hall, to ask for help.

She was the great listener in the family, and was always available for her kids and grandkids. She listened without judgement. Mom loved to knit and everyone in the family was the fortunate recipient of her handiwork of sweaters, caps and scarves.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur W. Harris, her parents, her sister Mary Ellen Wheat Moler, her daughter, Leslee Harris (Stephan) Smith, her granddaughter Krystal Miner (AJ) Kpah, and her great-grandson, Case Beckham.

She is survived by her daughters Patricia Harris (Miles) Hall, Shauna Harris (Denis) Miner, and Holly Harris (Glen) Reid, her eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren, her niece Cyndi Moler Beck and nephew James Moler.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the LDS Chapel at 11350 S. 1300 E., Sandy, Utah.  Interment will be held at Larkin Sunset Gardens 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Bountiful Mortuary.   Services will be live streamed and may be viewed by scrolling to the bottom of Barbara's obituary page.

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