Sara Elaine Harris

Sara Elaine Harris, 89, of Salt Lake City passed away July 4, 2023, a year and a half after her lung cancer was diagnosed. She was born May 7, 1934 in Salt Lake City to Dr. Burtis F. and Edythe L. Christenson Robbins, the fourth of five children. She grew up in Salt Lake, first on “B” Street, then on South Temple, spending summers on the family farm in East Millcreek, a much loved gathering place for the extended family. As a teenager she worked in her father’s medical practice and hoped to study medicine herself.

Her mother fostered a love of the arts in the home, and Elaine studied violin from an early age, later performing in various ensembles and often with her sister Edythe Tollstrup, an accomplished violinist.

She attended schools in Salt Lake and graduated from East High School. She was freshman class vice president at the University of Utah and was active in Chi Omega, staying close to her sorority sisters ever since.

She married Richard E. Harris in the Salt Lake Temple June 10, 1953. The couple lived for two years in Cheyenne, Wyoming, while Dick served in the Air Force. They then returned to Salt Lake. Elaine completed a bachelor’s degree in education and early in her marriage taught elementary school. An avid learner, she later completed a second degree in history.

Dick and Elaine were blessed with eight children, and they made family (both immediate and extended) the center of their lives. Dick passed away in December 2013 some months after their 60th anniversary, and Elaine observed their 70th anniversary June 10th.

In later life, she edited an anthology of her mother’s paintings and wrote the history of her parents, a book of autobiographical reflections (“My Life’s Adventure”), and most recently a biography of her husband.

A devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elaine served in many callings at ward and stake levels as well as at the Salt Lake Temple. She and her husband served as mission leaders in the Connecticut Hartford Mission. With her aunt Lucile Tate, she was called by Elder Boyd K. Packer to prepare an archival history of the Relief Society; this became the foundation for “Daughters in My Kingdom.” She was called to the Relief Society General Board in 1997, serving there five years. In 2015 she served as an ordinance worker at the Kyiv Ukraine Temple, and she was for many years stake historian.

She traveled widely, at home and abroad. Throughout her life she enjoyed many camping adventures with family, and in her 80s she bought a Minnie Winnie RV to extend these further.

She is survived by her children: Karen (George) Tate, Kristine (Michael) Munnerlyn, Diane (Greg) Warnock, Carolyn (David) Francom, Richard Harris, Joseph (Julie) Harris, Robert Harris, and Suzanne Harris; 26 grandchildren and 66 great grandchildren; as well as siblings Edythe Tollstrup Sorensen, Francine Stewart, Burtis "Bud" Robbins, and Joanne Robbins. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, several in-laws, and other dear relatives.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 11th, at 11:00 a.m. at the Olympus Hills Ward, 4176 South Adonis Drive. Friends and family may visit Monday evening, July 10th, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, and at the Olympus Hills Ward from 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the services.