HARRIS, Kelton A.

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona Wednesday, April 9, 2003 Kelton A. Harris, 79, of Casa Grande, AZ passed away on Saturday, April 5, 2003. Visitation at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints on Wednesday, April 9th from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. services will follow. Arrangements by J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maude Casa Grande Chapel. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kelton Harris By: Staff Reports Casa Grande Dispatch. Kelton A. Harris, 79, of Casa Grande, a longtime businessman who did mission work for his church overseas, died April 5, 2003 of natural causes in Casa Grande. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with the funeral following at 10. Burial will be in St. David, with a graveside ceremony at 3 p.m. Mr. Harris was born Nov. 9, 1923 to Daniel and Rebecca Harris in Tucson. He attended school there. He was married to Thelma Naomi Busby on Sept. 18, 1942 in the LDS Temple in Mesa. He worked for two years in Bisbee in a copper mine and then spent three years in the Merchant Marine during World War II, serving in the South Pacific. Following his return from the service, he formed a partnership with his brothers and built homes in Tucson under the name of 4H Construction. From January 1952 through January 1954, he and his wife served a mission in the Hawaiian Islands for the LDS Church. After returning, they owned and operated a trucking business and then bought and operated a feedlot near Casa Grande. In 1964 he, his wife and four children went on a building mission for the church to Brazil, where they served in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande du Sul and Recife, Pernambuco, building two chapels. The family went to Tucson after their mission for a year before returning to Casa Grande to take up the feedlot business again. Mr. Harris resumed his construction business with his son for several years before retiring in 1990. He was loved by all for his humor and good cheer. He used his talent and ability to work with his hands for the benefit of many people; his willingness to help others was well known. No one was a stranger to him. In addition to his wife, survivors include daughters Pamela Harris of Casa Grande, Cindy Shearman of Minot, N.D., and Becky Guzman of Greer; a son, Danny Harris of Chandler; an "adopted" son who returned with him from Brazil, Mario Halter of Keizer, Ore.; two brothers, Ellard of San Diego and Loyd of Winnemucca, Nev.; 21 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister. J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Casa Grande Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Published: Monday, April 7, 2003 Casa Grande Dispatch. Courtesy of Pat Wilson.