Obituary for Dolores Harper
Dolores Joan Mitchell Harper passed from this life on July 5, 2020, surrounded by loved ones singing hymns around her bedside in her granddaughter's home. Born in Nebraska in 1931, Dolores lived with her father Howard Mitchell, her mother Rosa May Mallory, and her younger brother Jack until her father was killed in a mining accident in Pioche, Nevada when Dolores was only 7 years old. Her mother remarried Aubrey Morris, who was a kind stepfather, and her siblings Aubrey and Rosalee came along.
Dolores's family lived in Colorado and then settled in California, where she converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She graduated from Poly High in Long Beach, California. Later, while serving in her church as the stake dance director, she met the love of her life, Vaughn Harper, at a church dance. Vaughn and Dolores married for eternity and raised 9 children in their home, including a beautiful Navajo foster daughter, plus many short-term foster children. Dolores and Vaughn had 64 beautiful years together, until Vaughn passed away in 2015.
Dolores was known for her sense of style, her quick wit, her flair for home decor--especially for the holidays, her better-than-restaurant home cooking, her royally tiny ankles, her fabulous shoe collection, and her fierce loyalty to family and attending their events. She could put together a meal with the same flawless taste as her wardrobe, and there was always room for one or twelve more at her table. With generosity, grace, and faith in her savior Jesus Christ, she juggled raising her large family while also running the family business, Harper Pest Control, from its headquarters in her home. One of Dolores's proudest achievements was serving a two-year mission with her husband Vaughn in Independence, Missouri from 1999-2001.
Dolores’s posterity is her legacy: Linda (Rod)--6 children, 26 grandchildren, 2 great grands--Colette (Kim)--4 children, 12 grandchildren--Jody (Richard)--7 children, 17 grandchildren--Jim (Robin)--4 children, 10 grandchildren--Brenda Tsosie Glazier (Gordy)--3 children, 5 grandchildren--Tom (Michelle)--4 children, 1 grandchild--Lisa (Gary)--5 children, 8 grandchildren--Wil--2 children--Joseph (Stefanie)--3 children.
Dolores’s family knows the reunion between Vaughn and his Doll Babe must have been one for the heavenly books.
Dolores's family lived in Colorado and then settled in California, where she converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She graduated from Poly High in Long Beach, California. Later, while serving in her church as the stake dance director, she met the love of her life, Vaughn Harper, at a church dance. Vaughn and Dolores married for eternity and raised 9 children in their home, including a beautiful Navajo foster daughter, plus many short-term foster children. Dolores and Vaughn had 64 beautiful years together, until Vaughn passed away in 2015.
Dolores was known for her sense of style, her quick wit, her flair for home decor--especially for the holidays, her better-than-restaurant home cooking, her royally tiny ankles, her fabulous shoe collection, and her fierce loyalty to family and attending their events. She could put together a meal with the same flawless taste as her wardrobe, and there was always room for one or twelve more at her table. With generosity, grace, and faith in her savior Jesus Christ, she juggled raising her large family while also running the family business, Harper Pest Control, from its headquarters in her home. One of Dolores's proudest achievements was serving a two-year mission with her husband Vaughn in Independence, Missouri from 1999-2001.
Dolores’s posterity is her legacy: Linda (Rod)--6 children, 26 grandchildren, 2 great grands--Colette (Kim)--4 children, 12 grandchildren--Jody (Richard)--7 children, 17 grandchildren--Jim (Robin)--4 children, 10 grandchildren--Brenda Tsosie Glazier (Gordy)--3 children, 5 grandchildren--Tom (Michelle)--4 children, 1 grandchild--Lisa (Gary)--5 children, 8 grandchildren--Wil--2 children--Joseph (Stefanie)--3 children.
Dolores’s family knows the reunion between Vaughn and his Doll Babe must have been one for the heavenly books.