History of Eliza Harman Coats (1901–1978)

Eliza Marjory Harman “Marge” was born in Granger Ward, Salt Lake County, Utah, on May 13, 1901, the daughter of George Reese Harman (1870–1912) and Caroline Hemenway (1873–1965). Her parents were married in the Salt Lake Temple on January 16, 1895, and built their family life in the heart of Granger. George and Caroline were the parents of seven children—four sons and three daughters—and raised their family on a farm at 3200 West 3996 South.

“Marge” enjoyed her childhood home with great fondness. What began as a modest house was later expanded by her father into a beautiful yellow-brick home with a wide lawn, shade trees, and a flower garden that her mother lovingly tended. Caroline Harman’s green thumb made their yard bloom with roses and shrubs, and a small backyard playhouse provided Eliza with hours of joy. She treasured a doll given to her by her grandmother Hemenway, a reward for running little errands, and carried bittersweet memories of the day it was broken in play.

Her childhood days were filled with helping herd cows with her brothers and cousins, gathering wildflowers, and making mud pies—much to her mother’s dismay. Winters in Granger brought snow so deep it drifted to the tops of telephone poles, and Eliza delighted in sleigh rides and playful tumbles in the snow with friends.

Life changed dramatically when Eliza-”Marge” was just eleven years old. Her father, George, passed away on August 12, 1912. She remembered him as a kind and gentle man who taught his children to pray, took them faithfully to church, and never tired of playing with them in the evenings. One cherished memory was of riding as a family in their surrey, pulled by horses, into Salt Lake City to attend Conference at the Tabernacle. His passing left Caroline to raise six children and manage the farm alone.

In 1920, Eliza-”Marge’s” mother married David R. Harman, who had been widowed and left with nine children of his own. Their marriage created a blended family of sixteen children, an experience that bonded them together in both work and joy.

On September 14, 1922, Eliza-”Marge” married William Jacob Coats “Bill” in the Salt Lake Temple. Together, they built a life of faith, raising six children: Archie Dewain, LaVarr William, Gerald Dick, Betty Jean, Carolyn, and Steven J. Coats. Their years together included both challenges and happiness, but Eliza-”Marge” took great pride in raising her family in the gospel.

Eliza-”Marge” valued education and attended Monroe School in Granger beginning in 1907, traveling at first by covered wagon and in winter by horse-drawn bobsleigh. Later she rode to Granite High School by horse and buggy and occasionally by streetcar. She graduated from the eighth grade at Monroe School in 1915 and continued her studies at Granite.

Service in her church was a cornerstone of Eliza-”Marge’s” life. She worked faithfully in the Primary, Relief Society, and Mutual Improvement Association (M.I.A.) of the Granger Ward. She served alongside leaders such as Grant Smith and Elizabeth Peterson. In 1951, when the Taylorsville Second Ward was organized, Eliza was called to serve as a counselor in the Relief Society, working with Martha Oakeson, Barbara Lambert, Maxine Holder, Cecilia Todd, Martha Hanson, and Laura Lehman.

Her devotion to her faith was also expressed in temple and historical visits. She attended the Salt Lake, Mesa (Arizona), and Los Angeles temples, and visited important sites such as Carthage Jail, finding spiritual strength in connecting with her pioneer heritage.

“Eliza-”Marge” Harman Coats passed away in 1978, leaving behind a legacy of faith, family, and service. From her childhood days in Granger to her years of leadership in the Church and devotion to her family, her life reflected the pioneer spirit she inherited and preserved for those who followed.

A Daughter of Granger: The Journey of Eliza Harman Coats

History of Eliza Harman Coats (1901–1978)