Harriet Bell Whitehead

LUNENBURG - Harriet Bell (Jewel) Whitehead, 91, of Lunenburg, VT passed away July 1, 2015 at the Country Village Nursing Home in Lancaster, NH, with loved ones at her bedside. Harriet was born in Lunenburg on March 10, 1924 to Clyde and Marjorie (Bell) Jewel. She attended elementary school at the Pierce District one-room school, graduated from Lancaster High School, and received her teaching degree in 1944 from Lyndon Teachers College. Later, she enjoyed teaching in the rural one-room schools in Waterford, Victory, Granby and Kirby. Harriet married her husband of 68 years, George Whitehead, on March 29, 1944. To them were born five children: Kathleen, Sharon, Elwyn, Jeffrey, and Christine. She had a great love of horses - a love passed on to her by her father. Incredible as it may seem she drove a horse and buggy or sleigh two miles to school every day at the age of six. Then for much of early adult life she would be seen riding her horse, Dolly, in parades, such as the Fourth of July parade in Lunenburg and East St. Johnsbury. Harriet and her husband raised their five children on a farm in East St. Johnsbury where she enjoyed participating in community affairs such as church suppers and Home Dem meetings. She was an accomplished artist and crafter. She loved to paint on canvas, do leatherwork, china work and to make all of her own clothes. She could be seen participating in all the craft fairs in the area. She especially enjoyed organizing the craft fair at the Granby School during Holiday in the Hills weekend. Harriet loved spending her summers at Shadow Lake in Concord, VT, where they had a camp. She could be seen almost daily riding around the lake on her pontoon boat. She also loved the ocean, and for over 20 years she would spend a week at Bar Harbor area in Maine. She recorded her memories of growing up in a book titled A Girls Story of a Farm Family . In it she tells a funny story of a time when she was naughty. She writes, "Shirley Colby was helping with meals and dishes during the haying season. I was probably five or six. Mother was a patient person who never yelled, but expected me to do as I was told. Shirley had on a pretty new apron and was doing dishes at the sink. I came up behind her with a pair of sharp shears and cut off the apron strings. Shirley never said a word but my mother said several." Harriet was predeceased by her parents and husband George. She is survived by her five children: Kathleen and husband Rodney Noble of Lunenburg, Sharon and husband Chester Stockwell also of Lunenburg, Elwyn and wife Mary of Concord, VT, Jeffrey and wife Loretta also of Concord and Christine and Dean Davis of Morrisville, VT, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren. The family invites friends to the home of George and Harriet at 1308 Colby Road in Lunenburg to share memories with the family on Friday, July 10 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers contributions in her memory may be made to "TOCC" in care of Chris Lingley, PO Box 195, Lunenburg, VT 05906. Funds will go toward the restoration of the beautiful stained glass windows in the Old Lunenburg Congregational Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster, NH. Please go to www.baileyfh.net for more information or to send an online condolence.

Harriet Bell Whitehead

March 10, 1924 - July 1, 2015