Joseph Granger Harper, age 74, of Keene NH, died Saturday afternoon, June 25th, in the comfort of his home, after a period of declining health. He was born on March 1, 1937 in Indianapolis, IN, the son of Chester and Hazel Harper. He grew up in Yakima, WA, where he graduated High School. He married Joycelyn A. Sargent in 1964 in a ceremony in Yuma, AZ. After High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps. And over a 21 plus year career, he rose to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. He served in Vietnam, and was a Drill Sergeant at the Marine Base in San Diego, CA. After retirement from the military, he went on to work for the Bureau of Reclamation for another 20 years. Mr. Harper was a member of the Morningside Baptist Church. In February of 2007, he moved to Keene and worked at Wal Mart as a store greeter and in Loss Prevention, until his health declined. Mr. Harper is survived by his children: Butch Irons of Spottsville, KY, Kay Spencer of Desert Hot Springs, CA and Paula Mann and her husband Orie of Rancho Mirage, CA, and Cheryl Revels of Kenne, NH; a sister Audrey McConnell of Yakima, WA; six grandchildren: Kenneth Spencer III, Mason Spencer, Joseph Dominguez, Dontai Revels, Tanie Underwood, Candace Knowlton and her husband Larry; seven great grandchildren: Kayla, Jamacio, Jeremy, Keyouna, Landon, Logan and Liam.A Celebration of Life for Mr. Harper will be held at 10:00 am on Friday July 8, 2011 at Morningside Baptist Church, 8th Ave Yuma, AZ. Burial will take place at 11:30am at Desert Lawn Memorial Park 1415 S. First Ave, Yuma AZ.