SPENCER, Harriet

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, Arizona, Monday, December 31, 2012 Harriet Stuart Spencer, 84, passed away peacefully at home in Wayzata, Minn., on Dec. 23. Born Feb. 3, 1928 and raised in Lake Forest, Ill., Harriet attended Miss Porters School, and earned a Bachelors of Arts degreee from Smith College in 1949. She married Edson White Spencer in 1950. Harriet and Ed spent 62 memorable years together living in such diverse places as Sioux City, Iowa; Barquisimeto, Venezuela, and Tokyo, Japan, before finally settling in Minnesota in 1964. Mrs. Spencer had a long and distinguished civic career in education and the arts. She was a founder, board member and chair of Highcroft Country Day School and served on the boards of the Blake School, Williams College, and the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. She was a founder and board member of the Japan-America Society of Minnesota. The Walker Art Center was the beneficiary of her tireless leadership and expert fundraising from 1976 through 1999, when she served as a board member and later board chair. She spent as much time as possible at the beloved family ranch near Cody, Wyo. Many of her happiest moments were spent there riding, hiking, and fishing with family and friends. The beautiful and rugged country in and around Yellowstone was a vitally important part of her, and she dedicated herself to preserving both its natural beauty and its cultural heritage. In that effort, she helped found and served as a board member of the Yellowstone Park Foundation and served on the boards of both the Yellowstone Park Association and the Yellowstone Art Center. She was a member of the President’s Council of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. She also served on the board of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, and chaired the Plains Indian Museum Advisory Board. Harriet and Ed spent many happy winters at their home in Wickenburg, where their civic-mindedness continued through their support of the Desert Caballeros Western Museum and other community organizations. Harriet is survived by her brother Robert Douglas Stuart; sister Margaret Stuart Hart; four children -- Linda (Reid) Murchison, Ed (Val) Spencer, Doug (Kathleen Parrish) Spencer, and Jim (Polly) Spencer; and nine beautiful grandchildren -- Sarah (Andy), Clare, Katie, Alison, Teddy, Emily, Julia, James, and Michael. Her spirit, optimism and grace touched the lives of many and will continue to serve as an inspiring example for her children and grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 14 at Wayzata Community Church. There will be a reception at Woodhill Country Club immediately following the service. Boots and bolos are appropriate attire. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (3000 Fifth Street Northwest, New Brighton, MN 55112) or the Buffalo Bill Historical Center (9720 Sheridan Avenue, Cody, WY 82414).