Harriet S. Whiting

Harriet Smirl Whiting Harriet Smirl was born on Nov 3, 1934 to William James and Margaret Nina Smirl in Kanab, Utah. She grew up climbing all over red cliffs and running through the creeks with her many many cousins. At the age of 14 while attending church she heard a very loud voice coming from behind her, she turned around to see Nell Whiting singing and two black eyes (belonging to her beloved Donald) staring straight into hers. That was the beginning of their eternal love story. They began dating almost immediately, and participated in lots of school and church activities. Harriet was active in theater production and she was a waitress at Perry's Lodge in the coffee shop where all the stars stayed while the filmed movies.

Don and Harriet were married on Jan 3, 1953 in the Salt Lake Temple. She finished her senior year in Mesa, Arizona, but came back to graduate from Kanab with her class. Early married years were made for fun and travel, which is exactly what Don and Harriet did. They were first blessed with Donna, then Laura, Nancy and finally Ellen. They loved traveling and spending time with their friends in Mesa, summers were spent at the family homestead near Green's Peak in the White Mountains. After approximately 10 years Don announced he wanted to live the life of a cowboy and had begun looking for a ranch to buy with this brother-in-law. By this time Harriet and Don had 4 daughters with Ellen only being six weeks old the when family moved to Kannah Creek Colorado. Harriet thought Don had moved her to hell!

Over the next 30 years the family grew to love the high desert of Colorado. The last daughter was born and the family settled into ranching and farming for many years, and Harriet became an expert cattle driver, holding bunch and heading them off when needed. She could run every piece of equipment for haying the family had except for the plow and the stack wagon. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they were very active church in the area. Harriet served as the Stake Primary President and as the Ward Relief Society President. Latter she supported Don when he was bishop, and finally was called to be his scribe when he was the stake patriarch.

Don and Harriet loved to travel and travel they did, with out google maps or trip advisor. Harriet worked as the navigator and Don the driver, most of the time it was pretty smooth.

After Don's death in 1993, Harriet became a landlord with rentals in Clifton, thus allowing her an income while she continued to travel. Her other favorite hobby was gardening in her yard, attending Church activities and attending the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

She is preceded in death by her parents granddaughter April, daughters Ellen and Donna, and husband Donald. She is survived by her sister Kathleen Holland, Daughters Laura Whiting, of Kanab Utah, Nancy (Jay) Fuller of Kannah Creek Colorado, and Allison (Scott) Dederick of Kannah Creek, Colorado. She is also survived by a son in law Dale Fowkes of Mona Utah. Harriet is also survived by 12 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren.