Harriett Louise Somervell Peters

Abingdon, VA – Harriett Louise Somervell Peters, a woman of grace, charm, wit, intelligence, and beauty, age 88, died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 2, 2014. The world is an emptier place without her. Survivors include her son, Michael L. Edwards, her daughter-in-law Karen K. Edwards, her grandson Jake Edwards, her granddaughter Monica Edwards, and her best friend Rena Maltby Corey. She was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, and her brother. Harriett was an avid bridge player and golfer who still hit the ball well into her 80s. Harriett also loved boating, water skiing, cross country snow skiing, fly fishing, opera, gardening, and animals. She travelled all over the world, mingled with movie stars and executives, and was an astute investor. She was a devoted mother and grandmother, and was a loving caregiver to both her mother and second husband during each of their respective prolonged illnesses. She read voraciously, including the Bristol Herald Courier, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Financial Times every day, and voted regularly. Born in Doña Ana County, New Mexico on December 18, 1925, she grew up in Tacoma, Washington, and lived most of her life in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her father, Willis Lewis Somervell, III (1896-1967), was a veteran of both world wars who worked in law enforcement in Washington State. Her mother, Eloise Nickels Somervell (1898-1988), was a graduate of West Texas State, taught school, worked for 20 years for the Army at Ft. Lewis, and for Todd Shipyards in Bellingham during World War II. Her brother, Captain Willis Lewis Somervell, IV, (1924-2014), USN (retired), was a veteran of both World War II and Vietnam and was a distinguished meteorologist. Harriett graduated from Washington State College with a Bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1948. She was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority, and learned to fly while in college. In an era when women frequently did the work without the titles, pay, and perquisites while their male bosses played golf, she was for many years an executive secretary at San Francisco Federal Savings & Loan. She first married Gordon Edwards (1924-2009) in 1951, then in 1974 married Dr. Harry E. Peters, Jr. (1912-1998), a prominent surgeon in Oakland, California. She moved to Abingdon in 2005 and spent many joyful times here with her family. The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 14, 2014 from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Main Street Chapel of Farris Funeral Service, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA. Flowers will be welcome, and the family suggests memorial contributions to Ecumenical Faith in Action, Crisis Assistance Fund, P.O. Box 2419, Abingdon, VA 24212. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guest register. The family of Harriett Peters is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, 427 East Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210, (276) 623-2700.