Shirley Harbertson

On August 20, 2016, our angel mother, grandmother and great grandmother was reunited with her beloved husband Grant to continue their eternal journey together.

She was born September 6, 1934 in Ogden, Utah, the 3rd daughter of Lawrence Edgar Taylor and Blanche Nelson.  She lived on a farm just north of Ogden in her early childhood with her parents and three sisters.  Later they moved to Ogden City where she spent the rest of her growing up years.  She was an avid tennis player, loved singing, music, and graduated from Ogden High.  She then attended Weber State College and continued her education at Brigham Young University receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.

She married Grant J. Harbertson June 28, 1956 in the Salt Lake Temple.  She was attracted to him because of his kindness, sense of humor, and loyalty.  She taught first grade at Canyon Rim Elementary School in Salt Lake City for a year until her first child was born.  In 1958, they built a home in Bountiful, Utah where they settled down to raise their four children and lived in Bountiful for almost 58 years.

As her children started to leave the nest she resumed her teaching career in the Davis County School District.  She taught kindergarten and first grade at Washington Elementary and Meadowbrook Elementary in Bountiful.   She retired in 1997 after spending almost 20 years teaching.  She loved working with children and received the Hall of Fame Award from Davis School District in the year she retired.  She influenced many young lives for good.

Although she loved teaching, she retired to spend her time and energies on the real love and focus of her life:  home, husband and family.   She was never one to seek the limelight or the honors of men, but found joy in her home and family.  She loved playing games with her sisters and family and could beat anyone at Chinese checkers.      She was an amazing homemaker, loved cooking and was a fastidious housekeeper.  She had a beautiful singing voice and performed with various groups over the years.  Her melodious voice could often be heard singing throughout the home.

She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving in various Relief Society and Primary Presidencies and various teaching positions in Primary, Young Women and Sunday School Organizations.  Her perseverance in adversity was inspiring to all of us.  In addition to dealing with chronic illness, she overcame various life-threatening injuries and diseases.  She would tell us her desire was to stay around to be a grandma and a great grandma.

She is survived by her children;  Heidi (Van) Haynie , Escondido, CA;  Mark (Susan) Harbertson, South Jordan, UT;  Ann  (Paul) Hess, Farmington, UT;  Eve (Brian) Crowley,  Parker, CO;  sister, Jerry (Charles) Lindquist; brother-in-law Ron Parker;  14 grandchildren;  15 great grandchildren,  She was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, sisters, Joanne Blackburn, Madge Parker; brother-in-law, Thair Blackburn.

A special thanks to the staff at Barton Creek Assisted Living for providing excellent care.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am  Saturday, August 27, 2016 at the Bountiful 21st Ward Chapel, 115 E Wicker Lane, (2000 So. Orchard Dr.), Bountiful, UT, where friends may visit family from  9:30 to 10:30am prior to services.  Interment Bountiful City Cemetery