Dad was born April 28, 1925 in Parowan, UT and passed away February 1, 2020 in his home surrounded by family and loved ones.
Harold grew up in Parowan Utah. At age 10 a wood chopping accident caused him to lose his right eye ‚ that didn't slow him down at all. He was involved in many activities ‚ in school he loved music and sports. He was a main stay of both football and basketball teams. He also played the base horn in HS band and base violin in the HS orchestra and in a dance band. Nona always said he liked to play so that he didn't have to dance. During the Great Depression he worked on farms bailing hay, lambing and shearing sheep, picking anything in season to save money for school and help-out with the family's expenses. Harold said that although he was as big as a man and worked along beside them, he was paid less just because he was a teenager. He was glad to have the work and the money, so he didn't complain. He had projects with the FFA ‚ pigs, lambs and vegetable gardens and went to Spanish Fork for an FFA convention in 1941.
After HS all his friends were going into the service, but he was classified 4F because he was too tall. As he tells it in the life story he was writing ‚ "I talked my way into the Army and in October 1943. I left Parowan to fight the "Battle of Fort Douglas" for the next 2 Ω years in limited service because of having only one eye. At that time, I also left in Parowan a brand-new engagement ring on the finger of Nona Robinson." Nona and Harold married January 27, 1944 in the family home that her father had built in Paragonah, Utah. During and then after the war they made Salt Lake City their home. Harold decided to follow in his father's footsteps as an auto mechanic so for the next 3 Ω years took an on the job training and with the GI BILL went to night school. In 1950 opened a service station. Then in 1955 began working in the garage at home on Harvard Avenue but soon needed more room and in 1958 started Harris Auto Repair on Edison Street where he not only worked for money but was in service to friends and family in need. Over the years Nona and each of the boys worked beside Harold at the family garage.
He started Harris Auto Repair on Edison Street in 1958. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served his Father in Heaven in many capacities. He served in the Park Stake Presidency, was the Bishop of Princeton Ward, was a Temple worker and served in many other callings, but his favorite was Scout Master.
As a child Harold was active in Primary but gradually drifted away as he grew up. One special primary teacher was Sister Ruby Orton. She stayed with the group of boys through all three years of trail builders in the primary program. They became "her boys". Harold spoke at her funeral in later years. In 1956 -57 Harold and Nona attended the first big Project Temple class held in the Park Stake at the end of which they were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on June 20, 1957. Harold held many positions in the church, but the first and his very favorite was Scout Master. He was also Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, was President, secretary and counselor in the Elders Quorum and several clerk positions. In 1963 was called to be counselor in the Bishopric and 1965 he was called to serve as Bishop of the Princeton Ward. In his history he writes: "Elder Alma Sonne ordained me and in the blessing, I was told I would be a good Bishop. I would love the people and the people would love me. That promise is still true today". In 1972 he was called to the Park Stake presidency. And on and on and on.
So much more can be said about the abundant life Harold has led, but from his history writings of January 1999 he says:
"Life goes on about as usual. Our health is about the same, a few more aches and pains. Nona still struggles with her gluten intolerance. Our teeth are eating up our patients and money. Our family still meeting their challenges head on."
He continues talking about Kelly driving himself continually day and night ‚ adding to their home, working, Marie teaching piano besides home and children duties. He writes of their four boys ‚ with their triumphs, successes and challenges.
He continues "Emmitt has a nice home, many challenges as owner/operator of EP Automotive. He has a several cars including 62 Vet, and a Porsche…spends time at Snowbird and travels to Hawaii. Rodney married and is expecting soon."
Harold continues that Lee and Sheila have a new home in South Jordan where they continue to have family get-togethers for all occasion. Lee has new challenges every day for both family and work as he owns and operates Harris Auto Repair.
He loved his family and had pride and respect for his sons. He always had in his mind and heart his family as well as his community. He would do anything he could to make anyone's burden lighter or their way easier.
Harold Harris continued to love the people and the people loved him to his dying day and beyond. He writes "We are most blessed. We have had a good life, living in this area. It has been a good place to raise our family and serve where we are called…for wherever you serve you are only in the service of our Father in Heaven".
Harold had a sense of humor that everyone will always remember. As part of an Obituary that Harold wrote for himself, he writes, "Funeral service short and simple. Let's get on with the hear after! First, I don't want to leave here with out Nona. She has been telling me where to go and how to get there ‚ besides she has been handling our finances, so I am sure she has plans on how to take some with us. Next, I have been planning to be buried in my suburban but if I go first Nona will be driving and she loves her Tahoe, so she deserves to get her way now and then, so I will settle for the Tahoe. I am not as tall and heavy as I was once so she can drive the Tahoe." He might add: Ha Ha Ha‚Ķwe are having fun‚Ķ
After a life of serving others, Dad stepped through the veil to meet his sweetheart, Nona Robinson Harris. Mom passed away November 6, 2015 after 72 years of marriage. We are sure she greeted him with something like "what took you so long, I missed you."
Dad was one of seven children born to Claude Emmett Harris and Harriett Ann Taylor Harris. Clarence, Mary, Elsie, then Dad, Odessa, Bill, Jim, half-sister, Margaret are all anticipating his arrival. Survived by three sons, Harold Lee (Sheila), Emmett, and Kelly (Marie-Ann); 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Anna Fields and Lois Harris.
A special thank you to Bonnie, Korie, Annette (Canyon Hospice) for always being there for Dad. Thanks to all for meals, visits, phone calls, etc. He was such an easy man to please.
Services will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Salt Lake 31st Ward, 1078 McClelland Street. A viewing will be one hour prior. Family and friends may also gather on Friday, February 7 from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple. Interment will take place at Redwood Memorial Estates, 6500 South Redwood Road. In lieu of flowers, donations to Primary Children's Hospital or your favorite charity.
