Harriet Marie Meeker Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Harriet Marie Meeker passed away on February 5th, 2017. She was born in Evart, Michigan on November 4,1920 to Arthur and Elizabeth Lenheiser. In 1923 the family (including two uncles) moved to Detroit for employment - Arthur as a painter, Clarence as a carpenter and Verne as a brick layer. After high school, Harriet had a desire to be a nurse, but the five years of education was something her Dad could not afford. Instead, she graduated from the Detroit Business University in one year and found employment at International Harvester. One day a good looking man in a hat came in as a new employee. Charles Meriwether and Harriet were married on December 19, 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor. Charles was drafted in to the Army in August of 1942 but medically discharged in October 1943. He passed away on December 14, 1959 leaving Harriet with two teen age daughters to raise. She was hired at the County of Santa Barbara and rose from file clerk to deputy county clerk before her retirement in 1983. During this time she joined the Bachelors and Bachelorettes square dancing group and started a whirlwind life with all the friends she met. She even married the President of the club, Merlin "Meek" Meeker in August, 1966. Meek passed away in December, 1994. For the past 20 years she has traveled and enjoyed life with her companion, Earl Cumpiano. Harriet was an active member of the Santa Barbara Womens Club and Modern Mothers (a group started during WWII for wives of military men). A wonderful, daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, Harriet is predeceased by her parents, husbands, brother, Dean Lenheiser, and daughter Barbara and son-in-law, Austin "Bud" Meehan. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Michael Underwood, grandchildren, Shawn Meehan, Julie Meehan Colna and Wendy Underwood Elliott (Brian) and three great-granddaughters, Danielle Manley, Emma Colna and Lauren Elliott. Graveside service will be held at Santa Barbara Cemetery at a later date when the family can be gathered from Illinois, South Carolina and Nevada.

Harriet Marie Meeker

November 4, 1920 - February 5, 2017