Nancy Olive Kerr Harris

by Mardene Harris Traveller

 

Nancy Olive Kerr Harris was born in Richmond, Cache County, Utah March 14, 1879 to Robert Marion and Nancy Jane Rawlins Kerr. At the time of her birth the family was living on a farm two miles south of town and her father was laboring as a missionary in Texas.

 

The family home was a nice, well-kept home both inside and out. There was a board walk from the house to the street, and it was Olive's duty each Saturday morning to use ashes and scrub the walk. She often reminisced about the large bowls of strawberries that had been picked in their garden, and about the pitchers of thick cream that had been skimmed from the pans of milk which had been cooled in the cellar in back of the house. She also remembered the suppers of water cress gathered from the spring, served along with hot salt rising bread and home churned butter.

 

She loved to dance and have a good time. When small her brothers would play the harmonica and accordion, and she would dance the jig to entertain the family.  She liked to quilt, and when a very young girl would sometimes stay home alone all day and quilt rather than go to Logan with the family, which was a treat in those days. They had many pleasant times when they would pack their lunch and the family would go to Logan to Conference in the white top buggy.

 

She attended elementary school in Richmond and had to walk the two miles in all kinds of weather. Following the death of her father when she was twelve years old, she went to Logan to live with her brother W. J. Kerr who was teaching at the college.  After leaving the district school in Richmond, she attended college in Logan. At this time her brother was the president of the school.  After her graduation in 1897, she taught school for three years. Two were in Fairview, Idaho, and one in Richmond.

 

She married Aroet L. Harris December 21, 1898, and he left for a mission soon after.

After her husband returned from his mission, they lived in an adobe house across the street from his folks.  Nancy Olive and Aroet eventually had six children: Aroet LaVern who died when two and a half years old, Amy, Mardene, Joseph William, Charles Marion, and LaGene.

 

At the death of Aroet’s father,  the family moved into the Harris family home where Nancy Olive lived the rest of her life. Her home was always open to relatives on both sides of the family and to her many friends. At conference time, Clara and Herman would often come Saturday morning and stay until Sunday afternoon. Thanksgiving and Christmas were spent either at her home or Nettie and Andrew's, with New Years at Clara and Herman's.

 

Memorial day was a day she always looked forward to for she knew the folks from Salt Lake, Ogden, Logan and surrounding towns would call sometime during the day. Some stayed for lunch, and others stopped for a short visit. She loved young people, and always encouraged her children to bring their friends home and they always knew that if the crowd was planning a party it could be held at their home.

 

Her mother bought a home just a block from Olive's home. Olive took a great interest in her welfare, and there wasn't a day that she didn't go up or call her. If she couldn't go herself she would send one of the children. After the death of her sister-in-law, Blanche Harris, who lived next door and left a large family, "Aunt Olive" as she was lovingly called by them became their second mother both in helping and advising. They appreciated this, and after moving away whenever they came back to town they would always call on her.

 

She always enjoyed going to church, and wanted her children to have the same

desire. She worked on the Primary Stake Board, and when the Stake was divided was called as Secretary on the Relief Society Stake Board. Because she had a small baby

it was very hard, and she was released. She was sustained as President of the Young Ladies Mutual Improvement Association, serving for two years and resigning when her daughter LaGene was born. While serving here, one fourth of July they put on a banquet and program for the soldiers who had returned from World War I. It was held

in the old North Cache School and the food had to be prepared at home and carried hot to the building.

 

She then worked on the Relief Society Stake Board as a theology teacher, and later she gave the social science lessons. The meetings were held in the wards at night, and they would have to go as far as Clarkston with a horse and buggy in all kinds of weather. She looked back with pleasure on associating with the best people of the stake and ward. She said she looked forward to Board Meetings as much as she did to parties. and never felt she could miss one if at all possible to get there. Many times it was a great effort. but she always felt repaid.

 

She was an active member of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers Organization. and served as secretary and president. She became a member of the Ladies Literary Club when it was organized in 1933.

 

When her health failed, it was necessary for her to give up all outside duties. Although not well herself. she cared for her husband during his illness. He passed away in January. 1955. After his death she lived alone and took care of herself.  She died on October 29, 1959.