Kathleen Joy (Harris) Olinger

Joy Kathleen Harris Olinger was born May 31, 1947, in Roosevelt, Utah, to Abe and Ruth Price Harris. She joined four brothers - Clinton (Bud), William (Bill), Doyle (Duck) and Barry (Muggins), and four sisters Glenda (Droop), Barbara (Bobbie), Anadee (Goog) and Shirlee (Shoo Shoo).

Although she brought much joy to her family she did not go by the name of Joy, because her dad didn’t want her named Joy. However, unbeknown to him, her mom named her Joy anyway, but never told him. She was always called Kathleen, and she preferred it that way. Most of the time she was called Katrink or Katrinka by her family.

Her father passed away when Kathleen was three years old. Several years later her mother married Earl Ward. The family moved to various areas which required Kathleen to attend numerous schools in Duchesne, Salt Lake City and Lark, Utah; Cody, Wyoming; and Eagle Mountain, California, where she was promoted from 3rd grade to 5th grade because of her scholastic abilities. She graduated from high school in Fontana, California.

Kathleen married Ray Barrett and they had three children - Carolyn, Keith and Brian. They divorced and Kathleen later married Wayne Olinger. David was their only child.

Kathleen enjoyed working with children, but particularly loved working with special needs children. During her 31 years while living in Fontana she worked at several schools.

She and Wayne moved the family to Fernley, Nevada, to be near her sister Bobbie and best friend Sharon Harris. Kathleen continued working with the special needs children there.

After several years, she moved to Humboldt, Tennessee, to be with Carolyn and Keith and her grandchildren. She dearly loved her seven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Kathleen also served in several callings in her church branch, including Relief Society counselor. Her main joy was fixing meals for all the missionaries who served in her area. She referred to them as “her missionaries” whom she dearly loved and they dearly loved her. She lived in Humboldt until October 2020, when her health started failing. Brother Barry and sister-in-law Trudy went to Humboldt and moved her to Cowley, Wyoming, to live with them so they could take care of her (and take care of her they did!), and to be close to her sister Shirlee.

Kathleen loved helping anyone in need. Not a farm girl, but when friends in Tennessee needed someone to care for their animals, she volunteered. She tells of several funny stories of escaping being run over by cows and getting kicked. However, she eventually learned to evade the cows and other critters (including a mule) and things went along quite well thereafter.

She will be remembered for all the pranks she and her friend, Sharon, came up with - like dressing in outrageous costumes she purchased at thrift stores, and going unannounced to the Cowtown Cafe in Cowley, to particularly embarrass a brother-in-law (Jimmy) who was there with a bunch of his crony friends. She and Sharon dressed up in one of their “special” outfits and went to Jimmy’s workplace where all the workers saw the “Ladies” and never let him live it down.

The “Ladies” also put 300 marbles and small clear balls with bells in them in Jimmy’s truck and some of them were still in there when he sold it.

Kathleen is survived by her children Carolyn, Keith and David (Michelle) of Humboldt, Tennessee, and Brian (Kerri) of Cody, Wyoming, brothers Doyle (Eva) of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Barry (Trudy), and sister Shirlee of Cowley, Wyoming, and sister Anadee (Bill) of Phelan, California. Her loved ones who have preceded her in death are her parents, husband Wayne, one grandson Jacob, two brothers Bud & Bill, two sisters Glenda and Bobbi, brothers - in- law Jimmy, Ben and Melvin and sister- in- law Betty, and several nieces and nephews. She will be fondly remembered by her family and many, many friends.

A celebration of her life was held March 30, 2021, in Cowley, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and another one will be held at a future date in Humboldt, Tennessee.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kathleen Joy (Harris) Olinger, please visit our floral store.