Harriet Saunders

Harriet Frances Shubert Saunders of Kerrville, Texas, was called home to be with her Lord Jesus Christ last Thursday night at the age of 73. God must have decided He needed another angel because Harriet left her earthly bonds at 12:00 AM midnight on December 2, 2016 due to complications from a sudden catastrophic stroke.\r\n \r\nVisitation will be on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, from 5-7 pm at Grimes Funeral Chapels in Kerrville. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, December 8, 2016, at 2 pm at Grimes. Graveside services will be held immediately following at the Center Point Cemetery. Harriet wished for cheerful colors. "No Need to Wear Black," was her exact quote.\r\n \r\nHarriet was born in San Antonio, Texas, on June 24, 1943 to Bessie Lorene (Hesskew) and Raymond Harry Shubert. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, as well as her brother Jimmy Ray Shubert and her grandmother Ella Shubert.\r\n \r\nDue to her father's employment, Harriet attended several schools in the Houston and San Antonio areas before graduating from High School in Center Point, Texas, in 1961. She began her college education when her children were small in the Houston area in the 1970s. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from San Antonio College in 1981. Through hard work and perseverance, after a total of fifteen years, Harriet attained a Master's Degree in Health Administration from Southwest Texas State University in 1984.\r\n \r\nHarriet possessed an amazing heart for service and a desire for giving. With nursing diplomas in hand, she was able to apply her heart to helping those who were suffering from ill health. When she first returned to Kerr county in the early 1980's she started working at StarLite Recovery Center, where she cared for those suffering from addiction. Over the ensuing two plus decades, she worked with a number of institutions and charitable groups around Kerr county caring for its people. She was a school nurse at both Center Point ISD and Ingram ISD. She also worked at Sid Peterson Memorial Hospital when it was located in downtown Kerrville and for a number of years at the VA Hospital. During these years, she also supported and started a number of community health programs. Eventually, she concluded her career as an RN at the Kerrville State Hospital.\r\n \r\nThe Lord was a very big part of Harriet's life. This particular value was instilled by her mother Bessie and her grandmother Ella. "God is in control" was one of her favorite sayings. Harriet was a lifelong member of the Baptist Church and served her current Sunday School class in many ways, such as handling attendance or preparing class notes. She would frequently end her emails to friends and family with a meaningful scripture she wanted to share.\r\n \r\nHarriet was a loving Mother and a fierce protector of her children. She had two children, loved their spouses, and had five grandchildren. Her daughter Sharon Saunders Barnett is married to Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rusty "Crusty" Barnett. They have two sons: Chase Taylor Barnett and Shane Austin Barnett. Harriet's son Keith Wayne Saunders is married to Heather Lynn Scott Saunders. They have one son and two daughters: Ryan Scott Saunders, Carissa Rae Saunders, and Isabel Annette Saunders. Harriet always called Rusty "Sharon's Prince Charming." Harriet would often marvel at how dedicated a mother Heather is to her children.\r\n \r\nHarriet was extremely proud of her grandson Chase, who is currently deployed overseas. She was looking forward to learning which college Shane would ultimately attend. Harriet was constantly talking about her upcoming trip to Washington State next year to see "the twins" Ryan and Carissa graduate from High School. Isabel held a special place in her heart as Isabel's middle name "Annette" is a combination of "Ann," from her other grandmother, and "Harriet."\r\n \r\nOver the past five years, Harriet had become very interested in her genealogy. With her daughter's urging, she began attending meetings for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). With the paperwork completed and approved, she became an official DRT Member in 2013. She was able to attend with Sharon two DRT Conventions-one in San Antonio and one in Fort Worth. Harriet enjoyed traipsing around Texas cemeteries looking at headstones and searching for ancestors with Sharon and Sharon's dog Bowie.\r\n \r\nAfter Sharon moved away to attend college, Harriet worked tirelessly to ensure that Keith would also be raised the right way and have the opportunity to pursue his dreams. She shepherded him through both undergraduate and graduate school, though this effort took seven years. Although Keith and his family lived away from Texas most of the time thereafter, Harriet had occasions to visit him and her grandchildren, including two memorable vacations to celebrate her 60th and 70th birthdays.\r\n \r\nHarriet was a great lover of animals. She would set out feed for the birds, and thus for the squirrels, in her backyard and near her patio. Stories were told, and memorialized in countless emails, about the deer that would routinely travel through her well-tended yard. Above all other animals, Harriet loved her cat Scrappy. He was such a source of joy and companionship for her.\r\n \r\nFinally, the family would like to thank Harriet's dear friend Darlene Hilburn. She was a particularly close friend to Harriet during her retirement years. And, equally importantly, Darlene was by Harriet's side on her last day on Earth. Darlene was part of the group of loved ones from Harriet's family and friends that were at her bedside and holding her hands as she joined her Savior in His Kingdom.\r\n \r\nSurvivors include her children: Sharon Saunders Barnett and Lt. Col. (Ret.) Rusty "Crusty" Barnett of Keller, Texas; and Keith Wayne Saunders and Heather Lynn Scott Saunders of Vancouver, Washington. Her grandchildren: Chase Taylor Barnett, Shane Austin Barnett, Ryan Scott Saunders, Carissa Rae Saunders, and Isabel Annette Saunders. There are many other family and friends who loved Harriet. (Please forgive any unintentional oversights, for we realize there are numerous others.) Her Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Carrell Shubert in Durango, Colorado. Leslie Shubert of Arizona. Belvin "Butch" Evans of South Carolina. Childhood friend Carol Olson of Houston, Texas. Arnold Kardell of Center Point, Texas. Darlene Hilburn of Center Point, Texas. The Women of the World (WoW) Sunday School Class at Trinity Baptist Church of Kerrville, Texas. The Joshua D. Brown Chapter of the DRT. And, finally, her wonderful cul-de-sac neighbors.\r\n