Jeannetta Rae Harrison Garner
March 11, 1928 – Aug. 8, 2017
Jeannetta Rae Harrison Garner, 89, passed into eternity on Aug. 8, 2017, in Nyssa, Oregon.
Jeannetta was born March 11, 1928, in Letha, Idaho, the first child of Alando De “Bob” Harrison and Mamie Gordon Harrison. The family grew to include Jeannetta’s brothers Bobby, Don, and Basil, and her sister Charlene.
Jeannetta enjoyed a loving childhood growing up on the family ranch on the Emmett bench outside Emmett, Idaho where she attended Hanna Elementary School. She later attended and graduated from Emmett High School. Jeannetta was very popular even back in high school, and that, combined with her love for dancing, earned her the title of “Queen” of one of their big school dances.
Because of the difficult travel between the ranch and town to attend high school, Jeannetta lived with her grandmother or “Grammie” Harrison during the week and returned to the ranch on weekends. Grammie’s youngest sons, Ferris and Duane, visited their mother often allowing Jeannetta to gain a great and lasting love for her uncles. Jeannetta’s nickname in school was “Blackie” because of her jet black hair. Even in her advanced years the darkness of her hair still shows through the silver gray.
After graduating high school Jeannetta attended the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho for a short time. At the end of WWII a handsome young red haired sailor came from the south Pacific to farm with his family near the Harrison ranch. It wasn’t long before “Blackie” and “Red” became an item and on June 11, 1948, Jeannetta married Dee Jesse Garner and they became forever known as ‘Dee and Jeannetta,” celebrating 65 years of marriage before Dee’s passing April 10, 2014. Their first home consisted of “two rooms and a path.” Their first son, Rodger D, was born October 26, 1950, in Ontario, Oregon while they still lived in Emmett. Dee worked for his Uncle Dick Stoker in construction and participated in the building of the Nyssa Hospital, where the rest of their children were born.
Dee and Jeannetta bought an 80-acre farm outside of Nyssa on Cow Hollow Road on March 11, 1953, on Jeannetta’s birthday, where they lived until Dee’s passing in 2014.
Daniel Todd was born January 13, 1954, Julie Etta (Bennett) on January 6, 1959, and Kelly J was born July 12, 1960. The family was sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple on September 14, 1969. In 1971 Jeannetta gained another son, Sauan Sukhan, who moved from Thailand after meeting Rodger who was then serving as an LDS Missionary. Sauan held a special place in Jeannetta’s heart for the rich love he brought to all who became acquainted with him and especially the loving kindness and sweet respect he has always shown to his “adopted” mom. Jeannetta was active in civic affairs including the PTA, Nyssa School Board, and the Malheur County Republican Party. Jeannetta was a State Delegate for the Republican National Convention, attending with her dear friend June Hartley. Dee and Jeannetta travelled to Washington, D.C. to attend the first inauguration of President George W. Bush. Jeannetta and June Hartley attended President Bush’s second inauguration. Jeannetta held a variety of church callings in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One of her last callings was when Jeannetta was in her ’80s, Owyhee Ward Relief Society President. She worked at various jobs in the community including Wilson Bros. Dept. Store, Paulus Jewelry, and drove farm truck for several neighbors. Jeannetta was instrumental in starting the Tare Lab at the Nyssa Amalgamated Sugar Factory, and when Amalgamated built a Tare Lab in Mini-Cassia, she went there to train the crews and help start up the lab there.
When Amalgamated’s field department decided to take petiole samples on the beet crop for local growers, Jeannetta was instrumental in making that happen. What started out as a “harvest” job, turned into a career. She worked at Amalgamated from 1966 until she retired in 1991. After retirement, Dee and Jeannetta served an 18-month LDS mission at the Atlanta, Georgia temple. They made some lifelong friends there and had many spiritual experiences.
A couple of years after Dee’s passing, it became necessary for Jeannetta to move to Nyssa Gardens where she lived the rest of her life. During her final years, she truly enjoyed the fellowship and frequent visits of her many friends and family members. The family extends a special thanks to the staff of Nyssa Gardens for their love and care during this time, not only to Jeannetta, but to her family.
Jeannetta is survived by her children, Rodger and Jay Leano of Tacoma, Washington, Dan and Peggy Ross of Tigard, Julie and Norman Bennett of Nyssa, Kelly and Cindy Garner of Pocatello, Idaho; 16 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Dee, her parents, her brother Bobby, great-grandsons Braden Wheeler and Roland Garner, and grandson-in-law Jonathan Brady.
A viewing will be held Aug. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at the Owyhee Ward LDS Church, 848 Owyhee Ave. Nyssa. Funeral services will be held Aug. 12 at the Owyhee Ward LDS Church. The family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., with the funeral services beginning at 11 a.m. Dedication of the grave will be immediately following at the Owyhee Cemetery.
Vanessa Eileen Jager
July 6, 1975 – Aug. 11, 2017
An army of family and friends gathered Aug, 11, 2017 at St. Luke’s, Meridian, Idaho, to assist Vanessa Haueter Jager, 42, of Harper, Ore. in donning her angel wings following an eight-year battle with cancer.
Born July 6, 1975, Vanessa is the oldest of three children born to Lynn and Rachel Haueter of Harper. She attended school in Harper all 12 years. Vanessa was active in sports her entire life, playing softball, volleyball, basketball and running track for the Hornets, selected more than once to all-star teams. Her sophomore year of high school, Vanessa and her seven volleyball teammates became the first Harper girls team to compete in the state tournament bringing home a second-place trophy. They were back at state the next year, too. The same nucleus of girls also went to state in basketball. In addition, she served as student body secretary two years and held various class and club offices. Working with her 4-H animals was also a pastime favorite.
Following high school, she graduated from ITT business school in Boise mere days before giving birth to her oldest child, Sierra Riley Steinbach in 1994. Vanessa married Gregory Jager on June 27, 1998. Two more children were born to this union, Kylee Michelle in 2001 and Brennan Chayse in 2007.
After working at Trebar-Kenworth in Boise for 15 years, Vanessa brought her family back home to Harper. She became the Harper School secretary in 2012.
Despite dealing with her illness, Vanessa never slowed down. She relished interacting with youth and eventually stepped into the role of coach for the same sports she participated in as a young person. She was also a 4-H leader, just completing a week at the Malheur County Fair.
Those who knew her always commented on her constant smile, ready laugh, and willingness to help. And her constant strength over the past years. She rarely complained. Well, if you don’t count her comments about Da Bears!
She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Cliff and Betty Hiatt, uncle Roger Hiatt, and mother-in-law Nita Jager.
She is survived by her husband, Gregory; children Sierra, Kylee and Brennan; siblings Kurt (Heather) Haueter of Ontario and Kelsey Haueter of Harper; her parents, Lynn and Rachel Haueter; grandparents Calvin and LaDora Haueter and Donna Hiatt; father-in-law Eric Jager of Arizona; nephews Brooks and Ridge and niece Aspen; as well as a passel of aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws.
A celebration of Vanessa’s life will be held Saturday, Aug. 19, 1 p.m. in the Harper School gymnasium. Please dress casually. A dinner will follow at the Harper Ladies Club. Those attending the dinner are asked to bring a salad or dessert if possible. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MSTI, Fruitland, ID or to Harper School for a memorial scholarship.
Vanessa, thank you for being you.