Harriet Girton Gearhart passed away on January 26, 2023, in West Seneca, New York, at the age of 91. 

She was born on March 26, 1931, to Gleason and Jennie (Andrews) Girton in Berwick, Pennsylvania. 

Harriet graduated from Bloomsburg High School in Pennsylvania and after graduation worked in the office at Milco, a manufacturer of ladies lingerie. On April 10,1951, she married Arthur M. Gearhart, becoming a homemaker and mother. After she and Arthur spent time in Kentucky at Fort Knox where Arthur was stationed, they moved to Monticello, New York. 

Once all her children were in school, she took a job as library aide at the Monticello Middle School and eventually became secretary to the assistant principal at Monticello High.

Harriet’s beautiful voice was frequently heard on Sunday mornings at the First Church of Monticello, Presbyterian where she was a member of the choir and Ladies Aide, as well as an elder. 

Besides being a dedicated Church member, Harriet also volunteered at the Grahamsville Library for many years after her retirement. Playing cards was a favorite pastime, as well as spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

She loved going to lunch and traveling with her friends. Her annual pilgrimage to the Bloomsburg Fair was a highlight for her, as were the Andrews and Gearhart family reunions. Harriet was well known for her cooking. She brought chocolate chip cookies to all occasions, and it wasn’t a picnic if her potato salad wasn’t present along with a nice pie for dessert. 

No one refused a dinner invitation if chicken and dumplings or ham and scalloped potatoes were on the menu.

Harriet was predeceased by her husband, four brothers, sister, infant daughter Marsha and her parents. Survivors include her son Jeffrey (Susan) Gearhart of Delhi, NY, and their children Amber (Matt) O’Leary of Harrisburg PA, and Kassandra Gearhart of Selkirk, NY; daughter Cindy (Ralph) Bressler of Livingston Manor, NY, and their children Karl (Kathleen) Bressler of White lake, NY, Kurt (Aimee) Bressler of Poughkeepsie, NY and Krista (Brad) Feaster of Montgomery, PA; daughter Jennifer (Mark) Williams of Orchard Park, NY and their children Stephen (Kellianne) Williams of Rush, NY, Owen (Megan) Williams of West Seneca, NY, and Ellen (Dan) Jackson of Derby, NY; and sister Meryl Tidey. She will also be dearly missed by her 15 great-grandchildren, Emma and Hannah O’Leary; Bryce, Lukas, Lillian, and Brynn Bressler; Ariana and Kaden Bressler; Ashlynn and Alexa Feaster; Rhys and Ethan Williams; Calem and Frankie Williams; and Julia Jackson.