Judith Rae Harmon Harris

Judith Rae Harmon Harris, 81, of Livingston, died at home in the presence of family the morning of September 2, 2021. Judy had pancreatitis among other things. About a month ago, she broke her hip and had it pinned. Judy was born July 16, 1940 (at Mrs. Robinson's). She was the daughter of Neil Harmon and Jesse Lyons. She received her early education in Livingston. When Winans school was built she went to the 4th grade. She didn't like the school, so she picked up and went back to West Side for 5th grade. She graduated from Park County High School in 1958. Her first year of college was at Eastern Montana College, now Montana State University - Billings. Two weeks before going to college she was riding with her boyfriend, a guy named Bill Harris. Judy encountered a skunk and got bucked off and broke her ankle. The summer of 1959 she was married to the guy that got her ankle broken, William (Bill) Harris. That fall they moved to Missoula to attend Montana State University - Missoula. They went to Missoula and lived in a 28-foot camp trailer. They started a family, so they invested in a 10 X 40 Fleetwood trailer. They used to go over on the lot and sit in it and think how spacious it was. Her first son was born on March 29, 1960, so she missed the Spring Quarter of 1960. That was the only quarter she missed in graduating in four years. She attended MSU (now U of M) the year of 1960-61. She had a due date of June 8, 1961, and a final scheduled for then. The prof said if she missed the final, she would get an "F". It just so happened that the president of MSU - Missoula went to school with Judy's mother. Judy had another baby boy on June 8th and got her "A" in the class. That next year she went to Montana State College in Bozeman and graduated the summer of 1963 at 2 PM, in the gym, with a BS degree in Elementary Education. Her husband, Bill, was still trying to finish. Judy was pregnant with our third boy, Toby, when she Student Taught under Kathryn Sprunger Shelly. Her husband got a job in Gardiner starting the fall of 1963. Judy thought she was finally going to be a housewife. Mammoth had a teacher leave, so Judy went to work as a first and second grade teacher. She would ride the bus up and down because 6 through 12 students went to Gardiner. She taught in Mammoth for three years and then traded with her good friend, Doris Berg, to teach in Gardiner. Judy taught in the Canteen, in the same room that her mother did in the thirties. At Christmas of 63-64 she moved into the new school in Mammoth. During our later years in Gardiner Judy and Bill both worked on their Masters. Judy received her Master of Education on August 21, 1971, at MSU - Bozeman. After that we moved back to Livingston where she was director of Title 1. She held that position until the fall of 1981 when she quit teaching.Her favorite position after she left the Livingston school system she was supervising teachers for the Gallatin County Rural Schools. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Bill, of Livingston; son, Tim (Ester), of San Diego; daughter, Teddee Harris Cuomo, of Billings; a brother, Jerry, of wherever his camper is; three grandkids, Lauren,(Tarquin and daughter, Waverly Rae) of Fresno, Jesse (Erin) of Jefferson, Oregon, and his son, Lincoln,grandson Jamy J. Watts, of Livingston, and Ann Harris of Pasadena. She is also survived by Stan and Debi Harris and their children, of Lacey, WA; Greg and Pam Harris, of Brackett Creek, Sonja Spannring of Livingston, Kent and Lorrie Harris and Justin (Tiffney) Harris, of East Helena. She was preceded in death by her parents, Neil Harmon and Jesse Lyon; sons, Tracy C. Harris and Toby N. Harris; a niece, Jana Kay Leathers; and sister-in-law, Kathleen Anna Leather and her husband William (Buddy). Judy was an avid quilter and her it was her passion, she was published in several quilt magazines,designed patterns and taught many classes.She is also survived by many Lucky students that she taught over her entire lifetime. A memorial service and celebration of Judy's life will be held on Saturday, February 19; 11:00 A.M. at American Lutheran Church with pastor Melissa Johansen serving as officiant. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.