Harriet Gerry

Harriet Gerry, 99, of Newfield, died on February 9, 2017 at Huntington Common in Kennebunk. Harriet was born in New York City on November 21, 1917 to James and Harriet (Jacobson) Carmichael. The family moved to Maine when she was very young and she attended Cumberland schools and graduated from Greely High School when she was 15. Being too young to attend college, she spent a year at prep school, before going to Boston where she attended Mount Holyoke College, and Boston University where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in education.In the fall of 1938 she began teaching at Newfield High School, where she met her husband Earland Gerry, who was employed there as well. Together they raised 6 children. Being a teacher, and lifelong learner, Harriet was a dynamic woman, with many talents and interests, which led her to many career endeavors, all while maintaining a home and raising a family.She taught at Newfield, Limerick, and Wells High Schools, she was a social worker for the Program of the Aged, she and her husband were owners and proprietors of Limerick Gulf Station, and they were trailblazers in the snowmobiling industry here in Maine, and she ran a poultry farm, raising laying hens and broilers. Harriet was a devoted and active parishioner of the Methodist Church in Newfield, and she loved studying the Bible. She was also a member of the Historical Society. Being in her 100th year, she told of living in the Great Depression, and remembered the 1947 forest fires, when she had to evacuate with her children to a nearby town. She led a rich life filled with numerous qualities, she was an educator, she was beautiful, tender, spiritual, kind, non judgmental, forgiving, smart, understanding, healthy, strong, could see the beauty in anything and anyone, loved animals, gardening and children. She was selfless, determined, welcoming, and caring. She was a cherished woman and will be dearly missed.Harriet was predeceased by her parents, her husband in 2007, a sister Elizabeth Bradenburg, a daughter, Beverly Gerry Acheson, a grandson, Moses B. Gerry, and two great grandchildren.Survivors include three sons, James Gerry and his wife Sandra, of Waterboro, Bernard Gerry and his wife Kathy, of Limerick, and Eugene Gerry and his wife Marlene, of Limerick, two daughters, Marjorie Gerry Calabrese, of Maui, HI, Gloria Dyer and her husband Larry, of Newfield, twenty grand children, many great grand children, two, great great grandchildren, and a sister in law, Marilyn Anderson.A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 14, at 12:00 P.M. with a funeral service at 2:00 P.M. at Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale.Those planning an expression of sympathy may want to consider, if you have a need in your family, please pay it forward to them. Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence please click tab at left.