Harold Ross Little

Harold Ross Little, 89, of Provo, Utah, passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024. He was born in the front room of his home on February 19, 1935, in Provo, Utah, to Ezekial Ross Little and Lillie Laura Wilkerson Little. He has siblings, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. He married Louise Larson on August 26, 1954. They were married for 29 years and had 4 children together. They later divorced. Harold married Sharon Gail Jensen on February 15, 1985; Sharon’s 2 daughters also joined the family at that time. He was married to Sharon for 39 years.

Harold graduated from Provo High School in 1953 and later earned a Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in 1968. Education was extremely important to him and through his example and encouragement, all of his children and their spouses in turn earned their college degrees, with many of them earning advanced degrees.

Harold worked from an early age and earned all his own spending money. Some of his jobs included: shoveling snow, delivering papers, mowing lawns, bagging groceries, stocking shelves, working for Start Ups Candy Factory, working at a garage, delivering soda pop and working at Highland Dairy. 

After he got married, Harold worked as a salesman at Sears, sold silverware and china, and worked at a finance company before settling into his career as an insurance agent for State Farm. He was a devoted agent and worked for State Farm for 44 years. He also enjoyed investing in real estate and did very well at it.

Harold and Sharon loved to travel together. They went all over the world on road trips, cruises and guided tours, with some of their favorites being river cruises. They loved to share their love of travel with their family.

Harold wanted his children and grandchildren to spend time together and be best friends. This was very important to him. For many years each Christmas Harold and Sharon would give the entire family (kids, spouses and grandkids) a family vacation to spend time together. We went so many places together, a favorite, and standby, being Disneyland. These trips created so many wonderful memories that will forever be cherished.

Harold loved living at his cabin in Midway during the summer. He loved to feed the wild turkeys, squirrels, chipmunks, moose, deer and hummingbirds. Harold also had an antique candy machine in the entry of his cabin. He created a fun tradition of giving all of his kids and grandkids who came to visit, a dime when they got ready to leave, so they could “buy” their favorite candy bar from his candy machine. This was so much fun and the kids really looked forward to it in anticipation.

Harold and Sharon loved hosting events at their cabin and had an annual summer party for friends and a weekend long Christmas party for family. His wife Sharon decorated the cabin to the hilt for the Christmas parties with Harold’s support in the background. It took them days if not weeks to decorate. The end product was exquisite and magical for their family and friends. 

The family Christmas party often had 50+ people sleeping on every inch of their cabin floor. We all loved the traditions created at these parties. They always featured sleigh riding for the kids outside and fun games and visiting inside. They included an array of snacks and meals, culminated by a Christmas feast. 

The Christmas feast was followed by a bingo game for which they spent all year buying nice gifts they knew the family would enjoy. Many of us are still wearing our nice coats and jackets we won as prizes. We all fondly remember watching the movie “Christmas Vacation” each year at the parties, fast forwarding, sometimes unsuccessfully, through a couple of spots. So many fond traditions and memories were created at these parties. 

Harold’s love and devotion to family was constant. He regularly attended as many important events in his children and grandchildren’s lives as possible. He took his children and their spouses out to dinner each year on their birthdays. With the support of his wife Sharon, he diligently sent birthday cards with money in the form of brand-new crisp $2 bills inside every year to each of his children, grandchildren and their spouses. They wanted them to know how much they were loved and appreciated.

Harold was a perfect gentleman and insisted on holding open the door and pulling out your chair. He was also the perfect host. Grandpa loved to take his children and grandchildren who visited him out to dinner and would never let us pick up the tab. He loved ice cream, and his grandkids nicknamed him the “ice cream grandpa” because he always kept fudgesicles and creamsicles for them in his freezer, his favorite being Hagen Daas. 

Harold always put others first, especially his family, but to so many others as well. He had a heart of gold and when he saw a need, which he always seemed to discover, he was the first to offer help. He touched so many lives through his quiet acts of service. 

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Wheeler Sundberg Funeral Home located at 495 South State Street, Orem, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery. 

Harold is survived by his wife: Sharon Gail Little of Provo, Utah; two daughters: Dana (Ray) Walker of Orem, Utah; Lisa (James) Turner of Orem, Utah; one daughter-in-law: Becki Little of Sandy, Utah; two step daughters: Ronda Erickson of Bountiful, Utah; Linda (Dan) Cavender of Midway, Utah; one brother: Shirel Little of Redding, Pennsylvania; one sister: Rosalie Scholes of Santa Clara, Utah; 22 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren and 1 great, great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his two sons: David Harold Little and Don Scott Little; his parents; one sister: Flora Maria Holland; three brothers: Vernon Little, Leray Johnson Little, Thomas Thaddas Little. 

Harold was the great patriarch and role model for his family. He will be sorely missed, but he will forever live on through his example and love that will create endless ripples forward in our lives as we fondly remember him and strive to emulate him.

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