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Harriette McDowell Holton

Harriette McDowell Holton, 93, died Sunday in Conway, SC, following years of complications from Alzheimer's disease. Born as the only child of John Lewis McDowell and Docia Eleanor Bowers McDowell on December 17, 1921, in Wadesboro, NC, Mrs. Holton was a lifetime resident of Shelby where she taught home economics at Shelby High School and served as Advisor to the local Future Homemakers of America (FHA) chapter for over 30 years.

A graduate of Queens College in Charlotte, she first taught at Harkers Island and Southport, NC, before working in Civil Service at Cherry Point Marine Base during WWII. After retiring from the Shelby School System, Mrs. Holton continued to be active demonstrating microwave ovens around the Southeast for General Electric Co. and heading up the Welcome Wagon organization in Shelby. Having chaperoned many senior class and band trips and chaired most of SHS's Junior-Senior Proms over 3 decades, she used those talents in retirement as President of the Shelby Friendship Force during which she led many local adult groups to visit citizens in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand and in turn hosted those visitors in her Shelby and Surfside Beach homes.

She was also a lifetime member of Central United Methodist Church, Shelby, NC, and was one of the first babies baptized in the "new" Washington St. sanctuary in 1922. She served her church on the Administrative Board, in her Wesley Sunday School Class, and as a member of the church's seniors group for whom she often drove the church bus on their trips and activities.

Mrs. Holton received many local, state, and national awards during her lifetime including being one of the four American Home Economics Association (AHEA) National Teachers of the Year in 1974 as well as the NC Home Economics Association (NCHEA) Teacher of the Year. She served as President of the NCHEA and on many AHEA, NCHEA, and FHA Boards and Committees. Queens College named her their Outstanding Alumnae in 1975. She once taught every girl graduating Shelby High School thus positively influencing their personal, family, and professional lives

She left a legacy for home economists through her encouragement to over 25 local women who went on to major in home economics (now Family and Consumer Sciences) in college and by establishing the Betty Feezor Scholarship Committee for FCS majors in NC.

One of those students she encouraged was her own daughter, Dr. Eleanor Holton McIntyre of Conway, SC. She is also survived by two grandchildren, John Lewis McIntyre of Conway and Susan Diane McIntyre of Dallas, TX.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 2:00PM in the chapel of Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory with Dr. Joe Collins officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. Burial will be at Sunset Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the John McIntyre Trust Fund set up by Mrs. Holton with USAA bank. Mail to Susan McIntyre, 6209 1/2 La Vista Dr., Dallas, TX 75214.

Cecil M Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Holton.


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