Harriet Pearson
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Ms. Harriet Elizabeth Johnson Pearson, 95, passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at Sunshine Health Care in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Ms. Pearson was born on June 23, 1926, to Herman Alfred Johnson and Eleanora Olympia Paulsen Johnson. She was raised on her family's dairy farm in Cashton, Wisconsin. She grew up with her 3 sisters working on the farm, and while in high school, she would also work at large department stores in Minneapolis and Chicago during the summers. She attended business school in Minneapolis.
While World War II continued, she and a friend answered the government's call for office workers and went to Arlington, Virginia, to work for the Army Signal Corps. She also later worked for the National Rifle Association. While in the DC area, she met and fell in love with a handsome U.S. Marine, Marvin Pearson, from Houston, MS, and got married. After the war, the couple made Houston their home for 50 years. It took a while for the southerners to accept her, being from the north, but she persevered and made many friends during her life in Houston. She and Marvin owned and ran the Fred's (previously Vic's) in Houston for many years. In her retirement she worked for Black's Department Store in Tupelo and later at Estes Dress Shop. She also lived 13 years in Cleveland, MS, near her youngest daughter.
Ms. Pearson always had a smile, a soft voice, was patient, and always practiced positive thinking. She was involved in her community as an active member of the Delphian Club and the Houston Presbyterian Church. The achievement she was most proud of was the raising of 7 children and the special interest she had in all things family. She made each of her grandchildren feel special. She faced any hardships life threw at her with determination and her strong Christian faith and was always a peacemaker. Her children were brought up in the church and she was a wonderful example for them. She took care of herself, exercised daily, and ate an apple every day well into her 90's. As she said many times, "exercise and eat in moderation."
A Celebration of Life service for Ms. Harriet Elizabeth Pearson will be held at Houston Presbyterian Church in Houston, Mississippi on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Tim Starnes officiating.
Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. at Houston Presbyterian Church in Houston, Mississippi.
Burial will be at Chickasaw Memorial Garden Cemetery in Houston, Mississippi.
She is survived by her 7 children, Nola Gibson, Ron Pearson (Kay), Marty Pearson, David Pearson (Leigh), Penny Placke (Dale), Janet Warrington (Marty), and Laura Owens, 16 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, a sister, Pat Olson of Westby, WI, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin Edward Pearson, her parents, Eleanora and Herman Johnson, two sisters, Lorrayne Bushek and Conelee Rude, and one grandson, Mark Johnson Pearson.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons- Jeremy Gibson, Heath Pearson, Colby Pearson, Jack King, Luke Warrington, Daniel Warrington, Ben Warrington, Caleb Owens, and Campbell Owens.
Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church of Houston, MS, and French Camp Children's Home, French Camp, MS, in which she took a special interest.
Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall at www.houstonfuneralhomems.com