Ruth Harris

I sat down with my mother to talk about her obituary before she died. Any phrases in quotes are her words.

Ruth Faragher Harris was born to Bettie Lou Hallam Faragher and Jacob Andrew Faragher on January 5, 1951 in Reno, Nevada. She passed away April 15, 2023 at her home in Farmington, Utah. She is the third child of 10 brothers and sisters. Their family moved around a bit until settling in Bountiful, Utah where she primarily grew up. They were a “close and happy family.”

Ruth loved sports. In her childhood she made her own skateboard for riding around the neighborhood, played volleyball, basketball and baseball on church teams and some intramural teams at school, and did sprinting and the running long jump - winning the all school competition for the long jump in junior high. As an adult she continued to follow many sports by spending many an evening or Saturday watching college football, volleyball, the World Series, ice skating competitions and every Olympic event she could fit in to her schedule.

She was an accomplished student who liked school. She graduated from Bountiful High School in 1969.

Ruth married Dennis Martin Harris in the Salt Lake City Temple. They became the parents to three daughters, Jennifer (Devin), Laurie, and Marianne (Randall). They raised their family in Mapleton, Utah and then moved to Preston, Idaho and later Portland, Oregon. They made close friends everywhere they lived “who were a great blessing to them”. Ruth and Dennis were married for 44 years. When he passed away in 2014, she moved to Farmington, Utah and has lived there since with her daughter Laurie and grandchildren amongst a “multitude of wonderful, loving extended family whom she loves very much.”

Being a mother and a wife was the joy of her life. She loved Dennis with all her heart and they were devoted companions and friends. Together they raised their daughters in love. Dennis suffered from severe arthritis for most of their married life and she did everything she could to help make his life easier as well. She found great enjoyment in reading, making bread and soup (which she shared with others frequently), and eating ice cream and See’s candy. Combining her love of sports with crocheting, she spent many an evening watching a game on TV while creating complicated and beautiful afghans which she gave to every one of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings and many friends (completing at least 28 masterful works of art).

Ruth was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her life was characterized by her love for Jesus Christ and His gospel, family, hard work, music, a lifetime of service, and a special ability to love others. These qualities were manifested in her lifelong pursuit to become like Christ, her complete devotion to her family’s well being and happiness, her love of singing in formal and informal settings and whistling while she worked, her strong desire to be of service to anyone in need including many years of service in the Bountiful and Portland temples, and her capacity to radiate love to everyone she met. When asked what were the most important things in her life she said, “the gospel and family.”

She is preceded in death by her parents and husband (“who is shouting hallelujah now in heaven”). She is survived by her siblings Kim (Anne), Cathy (Greg), Carol (William), Louise, Janet (Roger), Tom (Jill), Barbara (Alan), David, and Diane (Alan), her children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Mom said, “In lieu of flowers, take your family out to dinner or make a contribution to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter -day Saints Humanitarian Services”. The link is https://donate.churchofjesuschrist.org/donations/church/humanitarian-services?cid=MemoriaHumanitarian&.

Thank you to all who love her. She loves you, too.

Her funeral will be held Saturday, April 22, 2023 at the Davis Creek 3rd Ward Chapel located at 825 South 50 East, Farmington, Utah at 11:00 a.m. MST.  A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:30 before the funeral, and also the night before on Friday, April 21, 2023 at the Lindquist’s  Bountiful Mortuary located at 727 North 400 East.

Services will be live-streamed by scrolling to the bottom of Ruth’s obituary page.

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