Patrice Stoler Harmer

Growing up on Richards Street, in the 50's and 60's was rather wonderful, although I did not realize it until the last few years. I lived by my Grandparents, Grandmother, Aunts & Uncles, Cousins, good Neighbors and wonderful Friends. We could freely roam around and have fun. After my parents moved to Sugarhouse, I transfered to Highland High School. I started at BYU in the fall of 1969. I graduated from BYU with a degree in Health Education. I met my husband at BYU. We were married in 1972. We have lived in New Jersey, Colorado and last year on the Big Island of Hawaii, but most of the time in Sandy. We raised our children in Sandy and then a few years ago moved to Draper, because all of our children moved south. I never, ever imagined I would live at 12900 south. Midvale took a whole day to travel to and it is "only" at 7200 south. Interestingly I can make it to work, somedays, in about 23 minutes. That is from 12300 south to 600 south. Since I am now, like everyone else approaching the big 60, I have had alot of different types of jobs. I think I actually worked at Dee's one summer. I then worked at a bakery, managed the Centenial Shops of ZCMI, taught Junior High School, worked at ZCMI in Orem, substitute taught in the Jordan School District, worked at a Party Store, taught Driver Education for a private driving school, did some modeling work, worked as a lighting designer for 18 years, taught reading classes in Hawaii and now I teach Health and Lifestyle Management at LDS Business College. My husband and I worked as tour guides at the LDS Conference Center. We serve as Inner City Service Missionaries and love it. You would never know we are "empty-nesters", because our family is here constantly. We love it 90% of the time. My favorite past time, is to be home alone. Too much information, sorry.

I have many, many fond memories of McKinley, Lincoln and South. Anyone who attended the fun warm weather parties, could always count on a patrol car to drive by several times. The reason they knew where the parties were, was because my Dad knew where I was. He would send his patrol officers to our parties. It never occurred to me to lie to him. Duh. Some of the worst "sins" of our day were chewing gum in class, wearing curlers out in public and wearing
shirt tails out. I do remember at one of the parties some of us hid our drunk boyfriends in a garage, so the police would not find them. I was grounded after that. I do remember the first time we drove on I-80, it was brand new. I think Pam was driving a pink car. We got on at 700 east and headed west. Just west of State Street is where you had to choose to drive north or south. None of us had ever driven on the freeway, so we ended up in the area where the road divided. I have great memories of learning to drive from Moroni Schaub. I learned with Valarie, Lynn and I think Luke. We drove around Liberty Park and downtown SLC and stradled the railroad tracks on 4th west. I remember looking up from the back seat and seeing a train on the tracks coming toward us. I also remember hearing a few colorful words coming from our good instructor, when I slammed on the brakes, because I did not want to hit a robin. He should become a Saint, because he taught all of us to drive. I remember pickles stuck to the pillars in the cafeteria. I always loved the ramps in the building and classes on the 3rd floor. I remember when McDonalds opened. I did not realize it was the first one in Utah. I probably should have enjoyed the swimming classes, but did not---because I did not want wet hair. Were blow dryers even invented?