Frances Williams Harris

Frances Williams Harris, passed away at the Prisma Greer Memorial Hospital in Greer, South Carolina, on Sunday, July 5, 2026. Frances was born to Agnes and Roy Williams in Sacaton, Arizona on June 13, 1956, and had 14 brothers and sisters. Frances spent her first 14 years living with her family among the Gila River Indian Community in Arizona. Frances lovingly spoke of the time she spent with her grandmother who lived in a traditional native Pima dwelling and only spoke the Pima language. During Frances teen years she was blessed with a bonus family, The Ottesen's, which meant she gained another mom, Carol, and dad, Sterling, along with five additional siblings. The Ottesen’s fostered her in southern California, where she graduated from South Torrance High School in 1974. Frances attended Brigham Young University, where she loved attending football games, hiking to the Y on the mountain, playing intramural sports and getting ice cream at the BYU creamery with her many friends. While attending BYU, she sang in the Intertribal Native Choir, where she met Kelly N. Harris, a Catawba Native, from South Carolina. They were married in the Provo Utah Temple on April 2, 1976. Frances graduated from BYU with a degree in Early Childhood Education in April of 1979. Frances and Kelly had three children; Joshua (Tara), Lisa (Matt), Aaron (Jennifer), during their 50 years together and share six beloved grandchildren; Rayne (Clay), Jackson, Kaden, Annabelle, Reiner, and Iris. Frances and Kelly had many adventures together and lived in many places. To name just a few, Provo, Utah; Crown Point, New Mexico; Lancaster, South Carolina and lastly, Greenville, South Carolina, for the past 24 years. Frances loved living in South Carolina and much to the amusement of her west coast family; she gained a strong southern accent. She was always up for a trip to Charleston and the beach, where you would find her walking along the southern coast looking for seashells. Frances was beloved by many, as her kind heart and love of learning a stranger's life story meant she was always making new friends no matter where she went. Frances was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on May 12, 1970. She was an active member who served in many positions, but her favorite was teaching the youth Sunday school classes and women in relief society. Frances had a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and she knew her spirit would return to be with them again. She is beloved and will be truly missed. We will be celebrating her life with a service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday July 11, 2026, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel, located at 400 Farrs Bridge Rd, Greenville, SC, 29617. A visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Moyer Memorial Gardens in Travelers Rest. For those unable to attend, here is the link to view the service over Zoom https://zoom.us/j/99430103300. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.thehowzemortuary.com. The Howze Mortuary, Travelers Rest, is assisting the family with arrangements. (864) 834-8051.

Frances Williams Harris

June 13, 1956 - July 5, 2026