Harriett Straus, 87, of Gardiner, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 29, 2020, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones.
Born February 28, 1933 in Chadron, Nebraska, she was the daughter of the late Lee and Ione (nee Beatty) McWethy. As a child she lived on a ranch in Wyoming. She graduated from Reed College in 1955, where she studied Russian literature.
Harriett married David Straus on September 7, 1955. They had 60 happy years together before his passing in 2015. Harriett had a master’s degree in Library Science from SUNY Buffalo and she worked as the Law Librarian for the Ulster County Supreme Court in Kingston, New York until her retirement in 1996.
She was civically engaged, a member of the League of Women Voters, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and supported the American Friends Service Committee as well as donated time to the Office for the Aging. She enjoyed her book groups and supporting local libraries. She was interested in local history as well as native flora and fauna. She was a dedicated researcher with eclectic curiosity.
She is survived by her three children: Lisa and her husband Cameron Afzal, Lee and his wife Ellin McNamara, and David and his partner Marie McAllister. She leaves eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
In addition to her parents and husband she was predeceased by her daughter-in-law, Judith Austin.