Frances Harris was born June 30, 1935, in Pleasant View, Utah, to Elmer and Lettie Elizabeth Buckley (Libbie) Harris. She was the third of six children: Verl, JoAn, Frances, Linda, Clair, and Jim. Her great-grandparents were pioneers who trekked west to the Great Salt Lake Valley in the mid-19th century before the railroad arrived.
Frances’ earliest memories include mornings sitting by the kitchen stove to get warm, her fun and clever mother Libbie, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, friends, a dog named Smokey, and a variety of farm animals—cows, horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens. She even recalled retrieving dishes her toddler sister Linda had dropped into the outdoor privy—Frances did it because she fit through the hole and was willing.
Growing up during the Great Depression, Frances experienced a life of hard work and simplicity. The community of Pleasant View subsisted mainly by farming. Elmer fixed cars and farm equipment while Libbie raised raspberries. During the summers, Frances and her siblings worked in fields and orchards to earn money for school clothes.
Her family was actively involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. At eight years old, Frances was baptized in an outdoor concrete font that also served as the neighborhood swimming pool. From a young age, she developed a deep faith in God, believing He knew her personally and would answer her prayers. She dreamed of one day becoming a wife and mother.
Frances excelled in school, surrounded by good friends and guided by a love of learning. She developed beautiful handwriting and mastered typing and shorthand. Despite her family’s poverty, she was grateful for a warm home and admired less-fortunate classmates who lived in tents but still arrived at school clean and eager to learn. She learned to drive the family’s Model-T Ford, prepare poultry from start to finish, and stand up for herself. She wasn’t afraid to go against the crowd when her values told her otherwise.
Frances married Gene on April 11, 1966. For their honeymoon, they flew to the Grand Canyon with Gene as pilot. Together they raised their son Monte in Davis County, Utah, and later moved to Meridian, Idaho, in 2008 after retiring. They enjoyed cooking, home canning, camping, traveling in their motorhome, working on their Cascade property, and watching British comedies like The Last of the Summer Wine and As Time Goes By.
Frances had a distinguished 40-year career at Hill Air Force Base, beginning as a secretary and quickly rising beyond her formal education. She managed the Base Aircraft Maintenance Crew’s daily task list and later administered computer systems at Dugway Proving Grounds and Utah Test and Training Range. Known for her wisdom and kindness, she was a beloved supervisor and mentor to many.
A devoted member of her church, Frances served for years as the Relief Society’s Compassionate Service Leader. She cared for her widowed father Elmer every Saturday for five years until his passing in 1993. She indexed thousands of names for FamilySearch and, in her final decade, made countless quilts for the Women’s & Children’s Shelter, friends, and family. She also crocheted afghans and intricate lace altar cloths, including some for the Meridian Idaho Temple.
Frances was a proud member of the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers, serving as President’s Corresponding Secretary from 2001 to 2008 and later as the Central Idaho Representative. Her duties took her across the Western U.S., attending and speaking at DUP conventions.
Family was everything to Frances. Her only child, Monte, and his wife Jeri, treasured her guidance and love. Her grandchildren remember her warm hugs, calm wisdom, listening ear, productive strawberry garden, and legendary farmer’s casseroles.
Frances is survived by her husband Gene; her son Monte (Jeri); and six grandchildren and their families:
- Elizabeth (Matt) and children Patrick, Sam, Thomas, and Rosie
- Paul (Heather) and children Samantha, Abigail, Emily, and James
- Kathryn (Aaron) and children Madilyn, Jack, Charlie, and Henry
- Monte Jr. (Brittany) and children Cole, Chance, Shelby, and Luke
- Nathaniel (Katie) and children Brooklyn and Lincoln
- Parker, who lives near Colorado Springs, Colorado
She was preceded in death by her parents and all of her siblings. Frances leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, love, and family that will be cherished by all who knew her.
