Harriett Maxine McWilliams

Dennis Skeels

Harriet Maxine McWilliams

Harriett Maxine McWilliams
April 17, 1925 – August 29, 2014
Montezuma, Iowa | Age 89

Harriett McWilliams, 89 of Montezuma, passed away Friday morning, August 29, 2014 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Harriett Maxine McWilliams, the daughter of Carl and Hazel (Baird) Gabriel, was born April 17, 1925 in rural Deep River, Iowa. The family moved to Deep River several years later.

Harriett graduated salutatorian in her class of 21 from Deep River High School. She enjoyed school and was active in school plays, operettas, and vocal singing from first grade through high school. After graduation, she attempted to enroll in nursing school but was too young, as eighteen was the minimum age and she was only 17 by a month. She moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be with an older sister.

Harriett enrolled in Draughon’s Business College and became secretary to her brother-in-law, who was in the hotel business. After several years, she returned to Iowa and worked in Cedar Rapids for the Iowa Power and Light Company. Another sister, Norma, and her husband were in New Mexico as managers for a resort hotel and asked her to come down and be a secretary for the summer. Afterwards, she returned to Des Moines and became secretary to the Chief of the Iowa State Highway Patrol at the State House. She was also secretary to the Garden Editor of Better Homes and Gardens.

Harriett married Ernest Nelson of Omaha in 1949 and after several years of living in the east and south they settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Harriett returned to Deep River in July of 1994 for a school reunion and renewed a relationship with Dean McWilliams. They were school sweethearts and were engaged during the war. Their relationship ended for several reasons and they both married someone else, but their love never waned. They were finally able to be married on December 14, 1994 and have lived in Montezuma since that day. Dean passed away June 29, 2011 after a 5 day illness. They were thankful to God everyday for the years they had together.

Harriett enjoyed cooking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and cross stitch. She also enjoyed the outdoors, canning and spending time in her vegetable and flower gardens.

She is survived by her sisters, Betty and Phyllis and their families; her children; grandchildren; great grandchildren; and many friends.

Harriett was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dean; and her sister Norma.

Funeral services will begin at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Deep River Christian Church in Deep River. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.
Interment will be held in the Golden Rod Cemetery in Deep River.
Memorials may be directed to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Foundation, the Deep River Christian Church, the Montezuma Fire Department or the Master Farmer Foundation.

Friends may send condolences or sign the online guestbook at www.hollandcoblefuneralhomes.com.

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