Velma June Harris

Velma June Harris, 82, of La Grande died Oct. 15. A reception from 2 to 2:50 p.m. Saturday Oct. 22 will be at the LDS Church on Gekeler Lane. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. with Bishop George Chadwick officiating.

Mrs. Harris was born Feb. 14, 1923, to William Werner and Madona May Stout Schmidt in Portland. She graduated from Washington High School in Portland in 1940 and worked for the telephone company and the Fred Meyer's store. She attended Brigham Young University and on June 10, 1946, married Harold Reed Harris in the Salt Lake City Temple. She was active in her church and served as stake sports director for young women, served in the Primary for 30 years, and served four mission with her husband.

She enjoyed sewing, cooking, crochet, canning and being with her family., especially encouraging their pursuits in sports and music. She moved to La Grande in 1997, and looked after her husband after he suffered a stroke.

Survivors include her husband of La Grande; children and their spouses, Lynn and Janice Harris, and Mark and Linda Harris, all of La Grande, Paul and Lori Harris of Vancouver, Wash., Dianne and Lynn Payne of Declo, Idaho, and Julie and Daniel Elliott of Sacramento, Calif.; a brother, Werner "Bill" Schmidt of Albany; two sisters, Dolores Grantham of San Diego, Calif., and Virginia Ackerman of Ogden, Utah; 22 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the LDS Church humanitarian aid fund or the perpetual education fund.