Linda Lucille Ley Harker

Linda Lucille “Jenni” Ley Harker, 76, after living an angelic life here, left her home in Orem to live with the angels on April 30, 2026. Her greatest joy in life was her family (although sewing was a close second), and her four sons, one daughter, and 12 grandchildren all got to say goodbye and feel her love one more time before she left.

Born on Dec. 29, 1949, in the Bronx to Bernard James Ley and Dorothy Schmidt Ley and raised on Long Island, Jenni was a true New Yorker with a taste for high fashion. She loved sewing brides’ and bridesmaids’ dresses as a career, and then all kinds of clothing for children around the world in retirement.

On her father’s recommendation, she left New York after earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at NYU and started work on an MBA at Utah State University. With the help of wonderful friends, she learned about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was baptized just two weeks before Heber Brent Harker returned from a mission in France and fell in love with her. She loved him too, and they formed a bond on March 9, 1973, in the Logan, Utah, temple that lasted more than 53 years.

Jenni’s highest goal was raising a family, so even though she earned her MBA, she and Brent decided to live on his meager journalist’s salary. That career took them to Salt Lake City for two years and then to Canada for eight years before they ended up at Brigham Young University for a 32-year stint. Jenni was such a trouper to leave the big city and then give birth to her children in the “frozen north” (Stirling, Alberta). But she loved living there surrounded by Brent’s family. She showed some toughness that served her well later.

She was diagnosed in 2000 with a chronic form of leukemia and started on chemo treatments. Later, she learned that she had congenital Polycystic Kidney Disease. In 2016, she started dialysis and continued at home three times a week for almost 10 years. She did her best to stay healthy. She started a walking habit in the 1980s that took her and Dorothy Francis daily around the block in the Orem Park Fifth Ward area thousands of times for 37 years. Ronda Corbett joined them sometimes, as did Jill Judd, Faye Swinyard, Louise Lyman, Jessica Bauer, and others. Jenni brought sunshine to everyone she met. Jenni’s illnesses did not stop her from serving the Cub Scouts, the nursery (her favorite), and Young Women, the Relief Society, and in many other callings in the church.

Jenni’s rowdy sons and very well-behaved daughter (smile emoji) are the love of her life. Each one is her favorite: Brook Harker (Allison) of Saratoga Springs, Jim Harker (Colleen) of Provo, Nick Harker of Lehi, Danny Harker (Kelly) of Saratoga Springs, and Erika Smith (Corey) of Rigby, Idaho. Her grandchildren are also her favorites: McKenna, Xandy, Elijah, Linus, Ellie, Diana, Roman, Alette, Jack, Audrey, Drew, and Grant.

Jenni’s parents, Jim and Dorothy, moved from Pennsylvania in 2000 to be near their daughter, and she cared for them faithfully. They are buried in the Orem Cemetery. She has a brother, Robert Ley (Dale). They live in Bemidji, Minnesota.

We will see you soon, Jenni. Love ya.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 9th, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Orem Utah Park Stake Center located at 195 West 300 South, Orem, with a viewing held that morning at the church from 9:00-10:30 a.m prior to the services. Interment will be in the Orem City Cemetery, 1520 North 800 East, Orem. Our thanks to the Wheeler-Sundberg Funeral Home located at 495 South State Street in Orem.

If you are tempted to buy flowers, please redirect that generosity to the PKD Foundation (pkdcure.org/give/). Thank you!

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

For those unable to attend the services in person, you may view the Livestream HERE