My sweet Mother-in-Law

Joann Barton Harris, 70, of Nampa passed away Saturday, January 15, 2011 at her home after a long courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2011 at the Nampa South LDS Stake Center, 7809 Deerflat Road, Nampa. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, January 20th at the Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd, Nampa and at the church from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Friday prior to the services. Interment will be at the Melba Cemetery. Joann was born November 24, 1940 in Ogden, Utah to Cornelius and Georgia Kingsford Barton. She has 3 brothers and 2 sisters: LaRoy Barton, of Herriman, UT, LaRaine Thompson of Ontario, OR, Lynn Barton of Ontario, OR, Linda Barton of Ogden, UT, and Gary Barton of Hyrum, UT. During her childhood, she moved from Ogden to Vale, OR and then to Adrian, OR, where she graduated from high school in 1959. She graduated from Links School of Business in 1961. While visiting her aunt and uncle in Melba, in 1961, she met the man that would later become her husband, Robert Dean Harris. She served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central Atlantic States Mission from 1963 to 1964. She spent most of her mission in North Carolina. Joann married Robert Dean Harris of Melba on February 19, 1965. They began a long happy marriage together which resulted in 5 children: Janet (Doug) Ward of Spokane, WA, Steven Harris of Battle Mountain, NV, Marlene Harris of Nampa, Glen (Kim) Harris of Nampa and Donald (Holly) Harris of Boise. Joann was a very proud grandmother of Jason, Trevor, Travis, Justin and Tyler Ward; Megan, Joshua, Jordan and Elizabeth Harris and Brooke Harris. Joann had many hobbies and was famous for her quilts. She made and donated many quilts for the Melba community Auction. Many friends and family have enjoyed receiving quilts as gifts. She was very organized in family history and genealogy and put together many scrapbooks for others to enjoy. She enjoyed family vacations, camping at lakes and traveling to new locations. She loved collecting Disney characters. Many of her quilts display these characters. Joann was an active member of her church, serving in many capacities. She was also active in the community and the schools. She was a school bus driver for the Melba School District for 22 years. She attended many of her children's sporting events. She also drove the Melba Senior Van and loved the interaction she had with the Seniors. Joann was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Georgia Barton and her husband Robert Dean Harris. Her wonderful personality and desire to serve others will be missed by her children, grandchildren, family and friends.