Lorna Grantham Harris

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the departure of Lorna Grantham Harris, who, at the seasoned age of 82, embarked on her final adventure on June 19, 2025. After a brief, six-week illness, Lorna gracefully released herself from this earth, surrounded by the comforting presence of her beloved family and her faithful dog, Chase, nestled at her feet.

Born on December 6, 1942, in York, England to Winifred and Jack Grantham, Lorna's early years were a testament to her resilient spirit, navigating the landscape of wartime life in northern England amidst German air raids and food rations. Despite the circumstances, Lorna grew up happy in a close-knit family with her younger brother, John, always by her side. In high school, she excelled academically and athletically where she was captain of the field hockey team and enjoyed running hurdles. Upon graduation, Lorna’s adventurous spirit awakened and she was eager to see what lay beyond the English coastline.

At the age of 19, Lorna joined the British Civil Service, which transferred her to the sun-drenched island of Malta. It was there that Lorna truly blossomed, attending military galas, hopping aboard aircraft carriers, and, most famously, transforming coastal roads into her personal racetrack in a pink Mustang. Malta, indeed, flung open the doors to an exciting new world, and Lorna, ever the eager explorer, strode right through.

The next decade saw Lorna weaving a vibrant tapestry of life across exciting new cities around the world, eventually settling in Phoenix, AZ where she worked diligently and cultivated lifelong friendships that were as steadfast as her own spirit.

By 1975, Lorna had married Jimmy Harris and settled in Mesilla, NM. She embraced her role as stepmother to his two children, and soon welcomed a daughter, Heather. Five years later, the family grew again with the arrival of another daughter, Jamie.

Though her marriage eventually took a different path, Lorna, ever the formidable and independent soul, poured her boundless energy into raising her daughters. At home, she educated them on the subtleties of independent thought, the vital importance of questioning everything, and the absolute necessity of a well-stocked bookshelf. A free thinker and an unapologetic, compulsive book reader, Lorna leaves behind a library of dog-eared, highlighted treasures—a testament to her lifelong commitment to learning and her insatiable intellectual curiosity.

The last 20 years of Lorna's life were dedicated to the animal rescue community in Las Cruces, a fitting culmination for someone who, throughout her entire journey, harbored an unwavering love for dogs. Her legacy will undoubtedly live on in every rescued wagging tail.

Lorna Grantham Harris is survived by her daughters, Heather and Sharlene, and her sons-in-law, Dustin and Matthew, and a delightful array of grandchildren who undoubtedly inherited her spark: Vinny, James, Selene, Riley, Jake, Hudson, Lauren, and Shelly.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be sent to Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, so that her love for furry friends can continue to make an impact. Lorna may have taken her final flight, but her spirit, like her beloved pink Mustang, will forever be speeding down the open road, leaving a trail of stardust and fond memories in her wake.

A celebration of life will be held on September 20, 2025 at 2:00pm at the Center for Spiritual Living in Las Cruces, NM (575 N. Main St.).