Anna Muir Harper, age 91, passed away November 17, 2022 of natural causes. Anna was creative, enthusiastic, and loyal in her roles as loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, teacher, ward member, missionary and life-long learner. Anna loved to travel, read, and chat, and was a devoted fan of the Utah State Aggies, the Utes, and the Utah Jazz. We love you Mom!
Anna was born March 29, 1931 in Malad, Idaho to Vernee Barlow Muir and Bertha May John and raised in Logan, UT. She was the second of six sisters and spent her childhood helping out at her parents’ grocery store, playing flute, reading, studying, and being a social butterfly. She married her eternal companion, Richard Golden Harper, Jr., in the Logan Temple on December 19, 1949 and they shared 59 years. Anna attended Utah State University, where she played flute in the band, and later graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Elementary Education. She was a respected and loved teacher in elementary schools in the Granite School District for 25 years.
Anna lived her great faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ every day of her life. Anna held many Church positions, including Relief Society President, Sunday School president and teacher, Primary and Young Women’s teacher. She was a longtime member and Chaplain of the Daughters of Utah Pioneers and was a Temple worker at the Salt Lake Temple. She and Richard served in the California-San Jose Mission and, at an advanced age, braved the rigors of Mongolia as part of the first group of missionaries sent to Ulan Bator.
Anna is perhaps best known as the loving mother of her seven children, who survive her: Steven (Peg Wilson), Jon (Denise Dalton), Blake, Ted (Myra Kolin), Deanne, Miriam and Paul (Amy) Harper. "G-ma” loves and is so proud of her 12 grandchildren: Trevor & Tess, Annie (Sandra Chen) & Jake, Ben, Sam (Noelle) and Catherine; Sarah, Haley & Bennett, and Jack & Abby. She lived to welcome two great-grandchildren, Billy and Charlie. Anna is also survived by one sister and her husband, Margaret & Larry Olpin, many brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her cherished granddaughter Catherine, her sister Jacqueline in childhood, and by three sisters and their husbands, Marva & Ross Weaver, Verla & Warren Jensen, LuDean & Collins Thompson.
The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to friends, neighbors, extended family, and members of the Yalecrest 2nd Ward for love and support over the years. Sincere thanks also to Brandi Stillman, RN and Pearson Frank, LCSW of Intermountain Homecare & Hospice, and to the staff at Sunrise Senior Living of Holladay for the tender care and support provided to Anna and her family. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the University of Utah Department of Education, https://ugive.app.utah.edu/designation/12 or a check to College Education attn: S. Keller 1721 Campus Center Drive Ste 3202, SLC 84112.
Join us in celebration of Anna’s life on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 12 noon at the Yalecrest 2nd Ward: 1035 South 1800 East, Salt Lake City. A visitation will be held that morning from 10:30-11:45 a.m. at the Ward. Interment: Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park..
If you are not able to join us, please follow along on Live Stream Saturday 12:00 November 26. https://zoom.us/j/8019339421
