Harriette Pickering Furry

Harriette Pickering Furry, 99, longtime Overton resident, died Monday, August 30, 2010, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington. She was born May 16, 1911, in rural Lexington, to James E. and Bessie L. (Howard) Pickering, growing up on their Dawson County farm north of Lexington, attending Dist. 56 rural school. As a young girl, she became a member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church near Lexington. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1929, earned a teaching certificate at Kearney Normal School, and taught at Dawson County Rural School Dist. 96, until her marriage to Glen Furry of Lexington. Together they farmed east of Lexington until 1947, at which time they bought a Phelps County farm south of Overton, remaining there 10 years, until they sold that farm and moved into Overton. Harriette then worked at Plectron Mfg. in Overton for 16 years until her retirement in 1976. After that she worked part-time at Smith’s Store in Overton for 10 years. At various times in her adult life Harriette was an active member of the Lexington, rural Williamsburg and Overton Methodist churches. She was a tireless worker on their farm, all the while providing guidance for her children in their formative years. She was an avid reader, an accomplished seamstress, and loved all kinds of needlework. At the age of 75 she took up quilting and hand stitched many quilts, giving most of them as gifts. In later years, she became a dedicated volunteer and supporter of the Overton Senior Center, and, until her 93rd year, provided transportation for her friends who were no longer able to drive. She was blessed with a quick wit, and continued to make wry observations about life until her last days. She is survived by her children, Harlan (Dorothy) Furry of Kearney, Meredith Keep of Elm creek, Edie Zetterman of Lexington, and Jean (Philip) Stahla of Gillette, WY; 8 grandchildren, Russell (Jennifer) Furry of Centennial, CO; Joan (Brian) Gutierrez of Fontana, CA; Chuck (Becky) Keep of Columbus; Willie (Barb) Keep of Elm Creek; Jenny (Jeff) Spaulding of Arapahoe; Suzan (Kevin) Culver of Owensboro, KY; Stuart (Kim) Zetterman of Lincoln; Randy (Susie) Stahla of Gillette, WY; 21 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Ella Brown, of Olathe, KS. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Glen, in 1986, her brother, Howard Pickering, in 1996, and her sisters, Irene Swanson, in 2006, Edith Andersen in 2008. Funeral Services will be Saturday, September 4, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Reverend Tess Hufford officiating. Burial will be in the Robb Cemetery south of Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church of Overton, Nebraska Public Television, or donor’s choice. Visitation will be held Friday, September 3, 2010, from 5-7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington, Nebraska, which is in charge of arrangements. Please send expressions of sympathy to the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.