LaFaye Steed Harmon Obituary (1922 - 2016)

LaFaye Steed Harmon passed through the veil into the loving arms of her sweetheart, Kent Midgley Harmon, and beloved son, Peter Irvin Harmon, on April 20, 2016. LaFaye was born to Amasa Merlin Steed and Fanny Alice Wilcox Steed on April 4, 1922, in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. She was the sixth of nine children; her siblings Amasa, Ruth, Ileene, Grace, Blanche, Lynn, and Marye have preceded her in death. She is survived by one sister, Nola (Ted Valantine). The Steeds moved from Canada to southernCalifornia when LaFaye was seven. Eight years later she met handsome Kent Midgley Harmon in Glendale Ward when she was a vivacious 15-year-old. They married five years later on September 23, 1942, in the St. George Temple. LaFaye was the queen of her home, and her family was her life. As Kent, whom she affectionately called "The Founder," pursued BA, MA, and Ph.D degrees, she kept the home running smoothly and bore their first two children, David Kent (Laura Louise Tippetts) and Claudia Faye (Marvin Howard Gale).After Kent finished his schooling, they moved to Richland, Washington, where three more children were born: Kristi Ileene (Kevin Rae Branham), Peter Irvin, who died during his LDS church mission to Japan in 1970, and Gary Louis (Leah Hill). They also welcomed Kelly Hocum Thibert into their home as a foster daughter for one year. While Kent was busy with LDS Church leadership positions and work with nuclear energy, LaFaye served in many church capacities, but especially loved working with the children and young women. She was also active in the Richland Iris Society winning first prizes and even the sweepstakes one year. She included her children in her iris-growing activities. LaFaye was an accomplished seamstress, quilter, and cook. She and Kent made sure the children all had music lessons and opportunities to grow and learn. In their later years, Kent and LaFaye served happily together in the Seattle Temple followed by missions in the Micronesia Guam and the Austria Vienna East Missions. After their missions they moved to South Jordan, UT in 1992 where they continued their temple service and personal and family history efforts. LaFaye's twinkly eyes and feisty personality will be missed dearly by her 5 children, 27 grandchildren, and 77 great grandchildren and counting. We reminisce about her dramatic flair while playing board games, her bedtime lullabies, her game of "Here, chick-chick" where she sprinkled candy corn on a blanket for delighted grandkids to grab, her love of sweets, and her birthday letters loaded with love and graphics. We rejoice in her freedom from pain, her ability to walk and run and serve without hindrance, and especially her glorious reunion with Kent, Peter, and other family members. Our thanks to Legacy House, Legacy Branch, Leigh Ann Garcia, Janet Harris of Aspire Hospice, Sandy, Jennifer, and Jenkins-Soffe Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at 10:00 am at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10600 S), South Jordan, Utah, with a viewing from 9:00-9:45 am. Interment at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery, Salt Lake City, to follow. Funeral Home: Jenkins-Soffe South Valley 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway South Jordan, UT