June Harris

June Karoline Samuelsen Harris
1933-2013

Where do we begin? To know June, was to love June. Smart as a whip and possessing a killer sense of humor this Danish beauty was the whole package. June was born to a cute little Danish immigrant couple, Wilford and Valborg Samuelsen, in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1932. She excelled in school and graduated from South High School and attended the University of Utah. June was a visionary woman. She recognized that a certain young man, Lou Harris, a charming love-struck young man from the wrong side of the tracks, was a “diamond in the rough.” She was right, Lou polished up nicely. They were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on May 15, 1953. Perfectly matched, they enjoyed 60 years of marital bliss. A couple of months ago the extended family held a monster shindig in Park City to honor their marriage and their enduring love.

First and foremost, June loved her family. Her family basked in her love. She was a great listener who had a gift of helping people believe in themselves. She loved being a wife, mother and homemaker. She had this incredible ability to make a house a warm and inviting home.

June was a devout member of the LDS Church who served faithfully and wholeheartedly in many capacities. She showed her love for God by serving and loving people. She flat out loved people and people loved her back. She had a heart the size of Montana. She was a champion of the underdog. She had a smile that could charm the birds out of the trees. She used her visionary skills to recognize the innate goodness of all people, especially her children and grandchildren. She possessed a warm and welcoming soul. She laughed easily and often. She was a peerless celebrator of holidays who loved to decorate her home. She was a generous hearted woman. She took up the piano at the tender age of 60. It turns out that she was a gifted pianist. We always thought the family music well was a dry hole.

She was not a complainer. For many years she gracefully and patiently endured near constant crushing back pain and she was afflicted with a wide variety of afflictions. She died suddenly on August 28, 2013 of a massive heart attack. Though we are all heartbroken by her death we take comfort that she is reunited with her beloved dad, Wilford, who died when she was 19. Bravo, Mom! What a life you have lead. What an example of love and kindness you have been to all of us! We look forward with our eventual reunion with you!

She is survived by her eternal companion, Louis Arwell Harris, her 5 grateful children: Steve (Jean) Harris (Sandy, UT), Laurie (Bruce) Knaphus (Holladay, UT), Stacey (Scott) Becker (San Diego, CA), Mia (Kent) Hyde (Sandy, UT), and John (Diane) Harris (Tokyo, Japan) and by 17 adoring and adorable grandchildren and 3 amazing great grandchildren. Her two sisters, Rose Marie Wallace and Kathleen (Richard) Taggart also survive her.

The funeral will be held Thursday September 5th at 11:00 a.m. at the Willow Creek stake center located at 2350 East Creek Road (8200 South) Sandy, Utah 84093. A viewing will be held Wednesday, September 4, 2013 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the stake center. There will be an additional viewing prior to the funeral Thursday September 5th from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at the Larkin Sunset Gardens located at 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South) Sandy, Utah 84092.
Condolences can be shared with the family at www.russonmortuary.com