Jo-Ann Duncombe Harmer passed away at home January 31, 2026 with her husband by her side. When she passed, she must have had a joyous reunion with family members she had previously lost - her son Sam, both her parents, and three siblings. She is mourned here on earth by her large family: husband of 56 years Stanley Dean Harmer, sons Mike (Noel), Paul (Sarah), Ben (Laura), Dan (Emily), Jim (Emily), and daughter-in-law Christina; also 29 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Her family was her favorite part of life.

She emigrated from her birthplace of Kitchener, Ontario to the United States as a young girl. Their early days in Arizona were spent in an adobe hut with a tin roof above and dirt floors below - a small space for a family of 6 girls. She spent her teenage years in Utah, where they welcomed two Navajo sisters.

While studying at Weber State she met Dean and agreed to go on a first date with him, even though it was dinner at a restaurant with his whole family. While taking the Riverdale freeway exit (we are sure it was a very romantic off-ramp) as he drove her home, Dean felt a strong impression that he should propose to her right then, and so he did! She started crying, but did not answer him. She said the Spirit was so strong she was overwhelmed, and didn’t know what to say. Three days later, she found Dean and said, “If we’re engaged, shouldn’t you kiss me?” He loved that idea. They were soon sealed together on the luckiest day - Friday the 13th of June in the Salt Lake City Temple. 56 years later, theirs is still the happiest marriage around. Their devotion to each other, their temple covenants, and their family have been an inspiration to generations.

After they married, Dean and Jo spent 23 years traveling the world during his career in the army - Texas, Washington, Nebraska, Germany, Texas again, Maryland, Utah, Hawaii, and Texas yet again. They then relocated to Idaho until Dean retired from his civilian job. They served two service missions in Meridian. Upon retirement, they served a third mission, this time in Bakersfield, CA. They then returned to Idaho, and finally settled in St. George, UT.

Jo spent her life just as the Savior did - making sure that everyone around her felt loved, but especially the children. She served in a dozen Relief Society presidencies, but she was happiest leading “singing time” in Primary. She loved working with the Cub Scouts program and earned her Wood Badge. And campfire songs? No one ever sang “Toota-totta” with more gusto.

Jo’s talents blessed everyone around her. Her orange rolls were unparalleled - a true love language. Her tole paintings were famous enough to be featured on a billboard for Mormon Handicraft, where she sold crafts to financially support her six boys as they served their missions. She loved singing and teaching Primary songs to everyone, and made “Singing Time” the best part of Sundays. She used Primary music and lyrics to teach six crazy boys how to behave passably well in social situations. She didn’t just bake sugar cookies - she made colored “peek-a-boo” cookies for every holiday, and taught the youngest kids to turn them over to find the hidden cookie cutter patterns on the bottom.

An 11:00am funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 1905 E Rustic Drive, St. George, UT. Remote viewing of the service is available thru the website 

https://purposeinChrist.com/joharmer

The immediate family will inter her cremains at a later date.

If your life has been touched by Jo's, we encourage you to find someone around you who may not feel included, give them a great big “Grandma Jo” hug and a smile, and invite them to watch Pollyanna with you. Jo quoted Pollyana-isms often, such as “If you look for the good in mankind hoping to find it, you surely will.”