Burton, Harriet Gladys

Harriet Gladys Burton - age: 87
(March 10, 1930 to October 16, 2017 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Obituary:
Harriet Gladys Shimmin Burton ~ March 10, 1930 – October 16, 2017

Harriet entered into rest on October 16, 2017 after a challenging year and a half of declining health. She maintained a positive outlook everyday and relied on her enduring faith in the Lord to carry her through. Harriet was born March 10, 1930 to Edwin Harrison Shimmin and Elizabeth Gladys Spotswood. She resided in Mendocino County for nearly all of her life. Harriet’s early childhood years were spent living in Ukiah. At around the age of ten, she and her family moved into the home her father built on West Road in Potter Valley. She continued her elementary education and part of High School there before moving to the Sacramento Valley when her father began working at the Acme Hop Ranch. She helped her father by working on the ranch in the lab as an assistant chemist. Harriet completed her education at East Nicolaus High School in Sutter County in 1948. Soon after graduation Harriet was introduced to Joe Burton, who was just returning from serving in the United States Army in Japan. She and Joe, the love of her life, married in February 1949 and returned to reside in the family home in Potter Valley to begin their life and family together. Harriet was a true homemaker. Attention to detail was evident in everything she did to provide a comfortable, organized and loving home for her husband and family. Harriet was involved in the operation of a co-operative Play School in Potter Valley in the mid 1950’s. She and Joe owned and operated the 76 Union Service Station in Potter Valley in the 1960’s. Harriet’s role was to maintain the records and accounts for the business. Later on in her life, she also kept precise records for their cattle, hay and pasture management business. This role continued until 2006 when she and Joe moved to Alabama to be closer to their son and his family. In 2009, Harriet and Joe returned to Ukiah. Joe died in September, 2009 and for the past eight years Harriet has resided with her daughter and grandson, until her death. Harriet was active in PTA, 4-H, the Methodist Church, Potter Valley Elementary School talent shows, annual Memorial Day Parades and other Potter Valley community events. As a servant of the Lord, Harriet was always ready to help others by preparing and delivering meals when people in the community were in need. Harriet loved music, gardening, canning, cooking and was an amateur artist. She enjoyed the special camping trips to the coastal family property in Fort Bragg and the redwoods. Later in life, she and Joe traveled in their RV to many States in the United States. Harriet was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her parents, and her beloved aunts and uncles of the Spotswood family from Potter Valley. Harriet is survived by her three children, daughter Gladys Burton, Seattle, WA., daughter, Carol Clark, Ukiah, CA., son, Joe Donald Burton, (Mindy), Prattville, AL., eight grandchildren; Lisa Mantchev, (Angel), Port Angeles, WA., Lori Hunt, Seattle, WA., Adam Clark, Ukiah, CA., Ben Clark, (Amanda Archer), Potter Valley, CA., Amy Clark, (Miguel Quintero), Potter Valley, CA., Amanda Burton, Seaside, CA., Addison Burton, Prattville, AL., McCabe Burton, Prattville, AL., and nine great-grandchildren; Amelie and Xavier Mantchev, Ciaran Hunt, Lydia, Jamison, and Hannah Clark, and Selena, Sofia, and Araceli Quintero. Harriet was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed. It is a comfort to know that she is safely in the arms of Jesus.

A graveside service for Harriet Burton will be held at the Potter Valley Cemetery on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 1:30 PM. Arrangements under the direction of The Eversole Mortuary. www.eversolesf.com