Once a little shit, always a little shit

Great letter from Harmston’s cousin-in-law

Shortly after the death of James Dee Harmston, founder and prophet of the polygamist cult in which Joanne spent seven years, we received this hilarious note from Sue Nebeker. Sue’s husband, Clark, was Harmston’s cousin. We reprint Sue’s note here with her and Clark’s permission. We think you’ll find what she had to say interesting, to say the least. We surely did.

Dear Joanne,

Thanks so much for the book and laughs. I thought I would share with you that I am married to Clark Nebeker. His mother was Mabel Johnson Nebeker, older sister of Stella Harmston, mother of James or Dee as the family called him.

One year we went to a family reunion where the whole family talked about how Stella, if she had been alive, would have been mortified by James' behavior. The family tried to figure out what could be done to stop the silliness. While there I met one of my husband’s many uncles who declared that, ”that kid was always a little shit and I told Stella they should kill him before he grows up.” No one seemed particularly rattled by his comment.

We were informed that James had died of a heart attack. One of the uncles said that he would send a condolence card but he is on social security and can’t afford 17 of them.

I believe there will be quite a few orders coming your way since I have been on the phone reading quotes and alternating between laughter and moans. Thanks for giving us a picture of the grown up “little shit.”

Sue Nebeker

The late polygamist prophet and alleged little shit James Dee Harmston