Jessica Harrison Madsen December 12, 1975 - June 24, 2020

Our beloved Jessica Harrison Madsen unexpectedly passed away in her Spanish Fork, UT home on June 24, 2020.  Although she endured many serious ailments in her life, they did not define her.  Her deep love of family and friends, fun sense of humor and nurturing spirit is how we remember her.

Jessica Joy Harrison was born in Whittier, CA on December 12, 1975, the first daughter of Randy and Rita Harrison.  They placed their newborn daughter under the Christmas tree in Rowland Heights, CA and declared her to be the best Christmas gift they ever received.  At the age of two she and her mother and soon-to-arrive sister flew to Lehi, UT to join Randy who had started a new job.  She was delighted to become a big sister to Sarah, Jake and Luke over the next seven years.  Jessica loved being with her friends, being a Brownie Girl Scout, singing with her brother Luke in the Guys and Dolls singing group, and clogging and with her sister Sarah.  Jessica loved camping and swimming and was always the first one in the water and the last to get out, no matter how cold the water was.  She attended Lehi High School and married Adam Johansen at 18.  They worked together at BlockBuster Video in American Fork, UT and divorced after 5 years.

Jessica always dreamed of becoming a mother, but health issues made that dream very unlikely. That changed in 2000, however, when she met Nick Madsen and her motherhood dreams came true.  Nick had two adorable daughters, Amber (age 4) and Mandy (age 2) and she felt privileged to raise them.  The couple then adopted a beautiful baby boy, Mason (aka Mye) and a year later Jessica gave birth to her miracle baby, lovely Mia.  Her family was complete and they were her greatest source of joy.  The family lived in Utah, including Springville, Linden and Ogden, and in Colorado Springs, CO while Nick was in the Army.  After they divorced, Jesssica moved to Spanish Fork, UT with the children.

Jessica was known for her love of children and pets.  She was overjoyed to become a Nana and found great delight in spending time with her grandchildren.  She also had a special bond and place in her heart for her many nieces and nephews.

Jessica’s favorite jobs included working in the office of her brother Luke’s shop, Absolute Automotive in Orem, being an aide in a rest home, and assisting the elderly in using AARP benefits.

As a compassionate and caring person, she always looked for ways to help others even while she was mostly confined to her home and wheelchair.  She began a private Facebook Group called Hardships, What Makes Us Strong, where people could support and inspire each other.  Upon her death, they posted a tribute to her and invited others to “Be the things you loved most about the people who are gone.”

Jessica and her family were very grateful for the members of the East Bench Spanish Fork Ward (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) and for the selfless, generous and consistent assistance they gave to her and the children.

After she healed from yet another major surgery a few years ago, she was finally able to leave the confines of her home in her motorized wheelchair.  She could be seen riding around Spanish Fork to go grocery shopping, attend movies and visit the kids at their work.  She had a new sense of freedom and loved being outside in the sunshine.  One day, the wind blew her hair in her eyes and her wheelchair toppled off the curb, breaking her leg.  Once it healed though, she was back out being the free spirit she was.  We will all dearly miss her laughter, her love and her kind and gentle presence until we meet again.

Jessica is survived by her parents, Randy and Rita Harrison; her children Amber Madsen, Mandy Cheney (and Christian), Mason (Mye) Madsen, Mia Madsen; her grandchildren Leo Lopez and Evelyn and Blake Cheney; her siblings, Sarah Egbert (and Adam), Jake Harrison (and Stacey),  Luke Harrison (and Liesa); her nieces and nephews Branson, Harrison, Dawson, Adalyn and Jamison Egbert, Kylie, Kaden, Allie and Chase Harrison, Jasmine, Trinity and Kollin Harrison, Allyson, Kyle and Collin Metcalf.

Jessica was preceded in death by her grandparents, Joseph and Mary Fodor and Jack and Millie Harrison and her uncle Dennis Harrison and aunt Julie Harrison Ferkin.