Grateful

RUTH ANN HARRIS

Ruth Ann Harris 1930 ~ 2011 Ruth Ann Anderson Harris, loving and beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, peacefully passed away at home on August 21, 2011, after a long and joyful life and a brief struggle with cancer. She was born October 30, 1930, in Salt Lake City, Utah to Nettie Mary Hawley and Edward Oliver Anderson. Ruth Ann graduated from East High School where she excelled academically and developed a love of art and history. She went on to the University of Utah, where she joined the Chi Omega sorority. After her sophomore year, Ruth Ann transferred to Stanford University where she graduated with a degree in art history. Ruth Ann returned to Salt Lake City and worked as a telephone analyst with Bell Telephone. She married Quinton Smith Harris on August 28, 1953, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. The couple had a wonderful life together and had five children, Edward, Mary Sue, Richard, James, and Steven. Ruth Ann was devoted to her family and friends. Her love for her family was evident to all who spent even a short time with her. To her grandchildren, who knew her as Marmy, she was the most supportive, encouraging and enthusiastically proud grandmother that they could have had. She especially enjoyed spending time with her friends in the Foursome, the Open Book Club, the Bonneville Beauties (her Kindergarten friends from Uintah Elementary School), and the Cannon-Hinckley Dinner Group. Ruth Ann loved to read, enjoyed the theater, ballet and music, and was an ardent fan of the of the Utes especially the gymnastics team. She instilled in her family the value of education and was exemplary in striving for excellence in everything she did. While she was plagued by physical challenges throughout her life, she handled them with grace and determination. Her example of dedication, faith and patience will continue to inspire all of those who knew her. Ruth Ann was a devout member of the LDS Church and served in various stake and ward leadership positions during her life. Her first love was working with the children in the Primary organization. She served in the Mexico City North Mission from 1984 to 1987, while Quinton served as the Mission President. She also found great joy in serving in a University of Utah Student Ward and working with inmates in a Utah State Penitentiary branch, while Quinton served in leadership positions. Ruth Ann's spiritual and physical support made it possible for Quinton to head the medical committee of the Church's Missionary Department and be on call round the clock to assist sick missionaries and travel the world advising mission presidents and addressing health concerns for 17 years. Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her two precious children, Mary Sue and Steven. She longed for the day when she would be able to see them again, and she is now reunited with them. She is survived by her husband, Quinton; her sons, Edward (Anne), Richard, and James (Ana); her grandchildren, Devon, Kyrsti, Brynn and Taylor X; and her sister and brother-in-law, Francis Ellen and Robert McKay. The family gives special thanks to the nurses and caregivers of IHC Hospice and Danville Support Services, whose extraordinary compassion and kindness made Ruth Ann's final days comfortable and provided her family with tremendous support. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 27 at 11:00 a.m. at the Monument Park 17th Ward Chapel, 2795 E. Crestview Drive, where friends may call from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. before the services. There will be a viewing on Friday, August 26, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn Mortuary, 2350 East 1300 South. Interment at Salt Lake City Cemetery, 200 "N" Street. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Ruth Ann's name to the charity of your choice or the Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation (formerly The Deseret Foundation). Donations may be made by mail to 5121 S. Cottonwood Street, P.O. Box 577000, Murray, UT 84157.


I lost my great aunt Ruth this week. I knew this time was close but it is still sad to think that we missed seeing her again by 10 days. I was so happy that we had gone to visit her the last time we were in Utah and I was so happy that she had met Macie.

Just her obituary tells you what an amazing woman she was but there was so much more to her. I really am so blessed to have always had her in my life as a role model. I will miss her happy laugh and her holding my hand as she tells me stories and passes the candy bowl over to me.