Lowry Harris

Lowry Alan Harris, DC, 86, passed away Thursday June 11th, in Vernal, Utah at the home of his son Mike, who cared for him during his final years. Born in Provo, Utah on June 3rd 1934, Lowry was the second of three sons born to Carl J. Harris and Norma Butler Harris. He grew up milking cows and delivering papers with his dog King and being with his brothers and cousins. He attended Franklin Elementary, Dixon Jr. High, Provo High School and L.D.S. Seminaries, graduating in 1952.

After high school, he hitchhiked to Alaska for a seasonal job at a fish packing plant. His sense of adventure and desire to live fully and enjoy life guided him. After serving a two year LDS mission in France, he enlisted in the US Army and spent two years serving in Germany. We have heard many stories of this time in his life including traveling around Germany as the top sharpshooter and target practicing in Nuremberg. Being the assistant to the Field Commander, because of his excellent typing skills, enabled him to travel around Europe in his new VW Beetle, which he shipped back to the states (claiming it to be the first one in Utah). He also stood guard at a theater so Elvis could watch a movie. He married Jean Ann Sardoni in 1960 and were blessed with eight children, eventually settling in Lindon. They later divorced.

Those who knew Lowry remember him for his honesty and integrity, his generous nature and care for people as evidenced by his choice of profession. After attending BYU, in 1967 he attended Palmer College of Chiropractic at Davenport, Iowa. He supported his family of seven through four years of chiropractic school with his janitorial business. After a long day of classes, then dinner, he would go work, come home to study well into the night before getting up early the next morning to do it again. In 1972 he opened The Orem Chiropractic Center on State Street. He served the community for 41 years retiring in May of 2013, one week before his 79th birthday. He enjoyed the many associations he developed through those years.

Lowry’s natural talents and abilities helped him enjoy many things in life. He could play several instruments including the piano, draw and paint, photograph the landscape, and drive a fire truck and ambulance. His patriotic heart and military service influenced him throughout his life, from teaching his children how to clean during ‘GI Parties’, to his love of exercising his Second Amendment rights, to his studies of the Constitution. He, along with his brothers, began the tradition of shooting the cannon at the beginning of the Fourth of July Parade, and did that for several years. He was proud of his children’s accomplishments and enjoyed golfing, shooting guns and riding motorcycles with us and could then put our backs into alignment.

He is dearly loved by each of his children and grandchildren. We will miss answering the phone and hearing, “Hey, how are ya? This is your famous dad.” He is survived by his children, Jenae (Tom) Green, Provo, UT; Diane Harris, Vernal, UT; Julie (Matt) Shumway, Vineyard, UT; Liz (Craig) Timothy, Vernal, UT; Clark (Deidre) Harris, Winter Springs, FL; Michael (Christi) Harris, Vernal, UT; David (Kristen) Harris, Santa Clara, UT; 27 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and brother Robert E. Harris (Marilyn). He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Norma, oldest son Steven L. Harris, daughter in-law Christi, grandson Landon and recently his younger brother Antoine H. Harris.

A viewing will be held at the Walker Sanderson Funeral Home, 646 East 800 North, Orem on Thursday June 18, 6 - 8:00 pm and Friday June 19, 10 - 10:45 a.m. at same location. Following the viewing a private graveside service will be held at East Lawn Memorial Hills in Provo. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.walkersanderson.com