Phyllis (Huff) Denny Harrison

Phyllis Denny Harrison

1934 ~ 2025 

La Grande, Oregon

Phyllis Denny Harrison, 90, of La Grande, Oregon, died peacefully on May 7, 2025, in Highland, Utah. She was with family when she passed away. 

Phyllis was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska on June 20, 1934, to parents Robert E. and N. Wilmetta Huff.  Phyllis was the second of five children born to Robert and Wilmetta.  Her sisters were Shirley and Gail, and her brothers were Bob and Jack.

Phyllis spent much of her youth in Nebraska and in Riverton, Utah.  She also spent a year in Canada, where she graduated from high school.  After high school, she moved with her family to Portland, Oregon where she worked as a secretary.  The office where Phyllis worked was next door to a Consolidated Freightways facility where she soon met a CF driver named Mel Denny.  One thing led to another, and Phyllis (age 19) and Mel (age 22) were married on December 19, 1953.  

Phyllis and Mel (now deceased) lived in Portland and were the parents of five children:  Karen, Jeff, Scott, David, and Sandy.  Phyllis and Mel divorced in 1974.  At approximately that time, Phyllis moved to La Grande where she lived for the rest of her life.  Phyllis remarried to and then was divorced from Theron Ham (now deceased).  On August 9, 1980, Phyllis married Larry Harrison.  Phyllis and Larry remained married until his death on March 14, 2025, a total of almost 45 years.

With their marriage, Phyllis and Larry’s blended family now included her five children and Larry’s two daughters, Julie Harrison and Lisa Harrison Gilmore.  Over the years, Phyllis and Larry were very proud to be “Grandma and Papa” to the numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren that would later join their family.  

Phyllis was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and her faith was very important to her.  Over the years, she served the church and members of her faith in many ways and held many callings.  

Phyllis had many hobbies.  She was an accomplished artist.  She also enjoyed many crafting hobbies.  She enjoyed the outdoors, especially camping and working in her yard.  She also loved traveling to spend time with family and to explore the U.S.  She loved being a mother and a grandmother.    

Phyllis is survived by her children Karen Denny Greene (and Bob), Jeff Denny (and Billie), Scott Denny, David Denny (and Teri), Sandy Denny Feik (and Kelvin), stepdaughter Julie Harrison, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister Shirley (Huff) Searles and her husband Don, her brother Jack Huff and his wife Michele, and many nieces and nephews who loved Aunt Phyllis. 

Preceding her in death were her husband Larry, stepdaughter Lisa Harrison Gilmore, both her parents, Robert and Wilmetta Huff, her sister Gail Delora, and her brother Bob Huff.

A celebration of the lives of both Phyllis and Larry will be held in La Grande on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Union County Fairgrounds Mt Emily Building.

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