Harriet Naylor

Published June 02, 2020 at 10:14 AM

Harriet B. Naylor, age 91, of Fargo, died Monday, June 1, 2020 at home.

Harriet Margaret Barr was born on December 22, 1928, the daughter of Mary Louise Riedesel Barr and Clifford Barr, in Chicago, Illinois. She attended St. Andrew Catholic Grade School and graduated from Immaculata High School in 1946. She worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in Chicago during the early 1950s.

Harriet married Gordon Kenneth Naylor on June 25, 1955 at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Chicago. She moved to Fargo, North Dakota and began her family with Gordon. Her mother Louise eventually moved to Fargo, and the family transferred to Spokane, Washington and Missoula, Montana for Gordon’s job with the Northern Pacific Railroad. The family moved back to Fargo in 1969 and Harriet lived the rest of her life there.

Harriet loved raising her six children, Kathy, Clifford, Jim, Dave, Ken, and Mary Ann and cared for many of her sixteen grandchildren when they were born. She began working full-time once all her children were in school, for Dakota Bank and the Fargo Fire Department. Harriet was a devout Catholic and went to work to ensure all her children would attend Catholic schools. She became an active member of Professional Secretaries International and made many friends through that organization. She kept herself busy at all times. She loved knitting, crocheting, sewing, embroidery, and quilting. She was a good teacher, and taught the crafts she loved to others throughout her life. She also loved going to the lakes with her family each summer. The family originally gathered at Big Pine Lake for six weeks every summer. Later in life, the family held reunions each year at Lake Lida and later Ice Cracking Lake. She also loved dancing, traveling and watching the Hallmark Channel.

Harriet’s mother Louise immigrated to America from Luxembourg in 1922. Harriet traveled to Europe to meet her relatives in 1988. She met cousins, nieces, nephews and other family members in Luxembourg and Belgium. Harriet also enjoyed trips to Ireland, Paris, France, Grand Cayman, Seattle, Vancouver, Delaware, and Florida.

Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon, her brother, Clifford, and her parents, Louise and Clifford. She is survived by her children, Kathleen (Jay) Nelson of Fargo; Clifford (Monica Hannan) of Bismarck; James J. (Nancy) of Fargo; David of Fargo; Kenneth of Fargo; and Mary Ann of Washington, DC; 16 grandchildren, Katey, Michael, and Lauren (Kathy); Meghanne, CJ, and Hannah (Clifford); Olivia, Logan, and Dylan (Jim); Chris, Ben, Dana and Daniel (David); and Emily, Madison and Andrew (Ken); three great-grandchildren, Aria (Lauren Nelson); and Thomas and Daniel (Emily Jetvig).

Harriet valued family and religion, and at the end, she was surrounded by her family and supported by her faith.

Visitation will begin at 6:00 P.M., Rosary at 6:30 with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M., on Thursday, June 4, at Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 A.M. with visitation starting at 9:00, Friday, June 5, at Sts. Anne and Joachim Catholic Church, Fargo. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of Boulger Funeral Home and Celebration of Life Center. To sign the online guestbook, go to www.boulgerfuneralhome.com.