Oliver Wayne Harris

March 15, 1940 ~ October 22, 2020

Oliver Wayne Harris of Blanding, UT was born March 15, 1940 in Naturita, CO and passed from this life in St George, UT on October 22, 2020.

He is the oldest of nine children born to Wayne Hubert and Elma Ileen John Harris.

Ollie graduated from Moab High School in 1958 and served a mission to Paraguay for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before returning home to marry Barbara June Lee on December 20, 1962. They are the parents of eight children.

He received a bachelor’s degree in education from the College of Southern Utah (now SUU) and a master’s degree in psychology from Brigham Young University.

He taught elementary school in Arizona, Colorado, and Utah and finished his career as San Juan School District Psychologist.

One of his favorite lines after retirement was, “I just drive Gammy where she wants to go.”

His service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was faithful, dedicated, and complete, and his actions strongly reflected his beliefs.

For several years he honed his clever wit by writing the “Idle Thoughts” column for the Blue Mountain Panorama and was excited when it was syndicated in the Moab Times.

A few words to describe him, in no particular order, would be writer, artist, singer, photographer, reader, journalist, hiker, bicyclist, poet, humorist, dancer, friend, hunter, provider, sports fan, and avid Simpsons watcher.

After Barbara passed away in 2015 he tolerated bachelorhood – until he married Darlene Lucie Hyatt Rowley on August 15, 2020, which put the twinkle back in his eye.

He is preceded in death by his beautiful bride, Barbara; his parents; and his sister, Jo Ellen Atwood.

He is survived by his lovely wife, Darlene; children Chrishawn Acton (Michael), Terri Christensen (Eric), Joaquin (Katherine), Doyle (Ileana), Joleen Kartchner (Keith), Stefani Hunsaker (Sean), Alicia Hunsaker (Kip), Orrin (Dana); 37 grandchildren; 43 (and an undetermined amount of half) great-grandchildren; brothers Chad (Sandy) and Orlin; and sisters Elma Palmer, Ruth Thayn (Lloyd), Linda Kennedy, Bonnie Crum, and Nivana John.

San Juan Record

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Monticello, UT 84535

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