Helen Mae (Muldoon) Harris

Helen (Muldoon) Harris passed away on Monday, March 1, 2021 of natural causes. Helen was born to Alma Christine Anderson Muldoon and John Muldoon in Lyman County near Kennibec, South Dakota on July 16, 1928. She started 1st grade at age 5 in a one room schoolhouse. In 1934, the Muldoon family moved to Idaho due to drought conditions in the Dakota’s. When they reached Idaho, they thought it was the land of plenty with green grass and fresh fruit. They first lived in the Lakeview Community south of Nampa where her father worked odd jobs. Later that year they moved to Marsing where her father worked as a farmhand for a dollar a day and a gallon of milk. She attended 2nd through 8th grade at Edison Grade School just west of Marsing. Helen made lifelong friends during her time at Edison. She entered Marsing High School in 1941. In December of that year, WWII broke out bringing many changes to her life. Helen graduated from high school in 1945. After high school she worked a variety of jobs including Morfitt’s, Marsing Beet Dump, Marsing Drug and Canyon Abtract in Caldwell. Helen married Jack Harris on January 1, 1948 and started their life together on the family farm in the Riverside Community. While on the farm, she de-tasseled corn, milked cows, raised and butchered chickens and tackled any job that needed to be done. They had four children, Valerie Christine, Jacqueline Emily, Kevin Thomas and Kerry John. Helen went to work for the Vallivue School District as a secretary in the Superintendent’s office and continued working there for 14 years. In 1980, she went to work as the secretary at Caldwell High School. She retired in 1990 at the age of 62 but returned to CHS to job share with her niece, LiNae Bauscher for another 6 years. Helen made many friends during her years at Vallivue and Caldwell. Helen never missed events involving her children and grandchildren. She was a life-long devout Catholic. Helen loved cooking, baking and candy making. She shared her culinary passion with friends and family. She is survived by her children, Valerie (Dennis) Dines, Jacque (George) Scott, Kevin Harris and Kerry (Tammy) Harris; 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Lavila Johnstone, Dorothy Ihli and Joyce (Howard) Shorb and her brother, Jack Muldoon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents, John and Alma Muldoon; a grandson, Shane Dines; a granddaughter, Jennifer Scott; her brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Mary Ann Muldoon; her sister and brother-in-law, Alpha and Wade Percifield; her sister-in-law, Frankie Muldoon; her brothers-in-law, Charles Ihli and Carroll Johnstone; some very dear nieces and nephews and close friends, Joe and Betty Churruca. The viewing will be Sunday, March 7, 2021 from 4:00-8:00 with the Funeral Vigil at 7:00 at Flahiff Funeral Chapel. Mass of the Christian Burial will be on Monday, March 8 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Valley. Memorials can be made in Helen’s name to the Shane Dines Memorial Scholarship University of Idaho Foundation Inc. 875 Perimeter Drive MS 3143 Moscow, ID 83844-3143 or St. Clare’s Pantry Our Lady of the Valley 1122 W. Linden St. Caldwell, ID 83605. The family would also like to thank the staff at The Gables in Caldwell for their dedicated and loving care of Helen. Condolences can be given at www.flahifffuneralchapel.com