Harriette Ann Butcher Wells

Harriette Ann Butcher Wells, 82, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Saturday, March 19, 2011 after a courageous battle with cancer. Harriette was born on May 25, 1928 in Portsmouth, Ohio. She was the youngest child of Davis David Butcher and Marjorie Matilda Good Butcher.

Harriette spent her childhood on a farm along the Ohio River in Cheshire, Ohio with her sister Iris and brothers Bob and Carroll. In 1939, she moved with her parents to Houston, Texas where her father found work as a carpenter in the shipbuilding trade.

As a teenager and young adult, Harriette worked for several of Houston's major retail department stores in their administration, as a sales associate and as a high fashion model.

In 1948, Harriette gave birth to her son Johnny Lynch Coultrup. Throughout the 1960's Harriette worked for various Oil & Gas companies in Houston. In the late 1960's, Harriette bought a small ranch outside of Lakeway where she lived the remainder of her life.

In the early 1970's she acquired a former bait shop in Bee Cave that she converted to an antique, handcrafts and jewelry boutique called The House of Harriette & John that she and her son operated together until 2010.

Harriette was a collector of antiques, precious glassware and fine china.

Harriette was a voracious reader of all types of literature but was especially fond of stories about the western frontier and of early Texas in particular. Harriette was a life long bird watcher and nature lover of all kinds, she loved the Texas Hill Country, gardening and tending to her plants.

Harriette loved to cook and entertain, she enjoyed having her evening cocktails at the end of the day and fine foods and drink with her friends.

She is survived by her loving son, Johnny Lynch Coultrup, her sister-in-law Francis Butcher, Nephews: James Baker, Tommy Butcher, Lester Butcher, Mike Butcher and Nieces: Anne Baker, Sandra Higham, Marjorie Henderson, Lynne Brinker and dozens of Great and Great-Great Nieces and Nephews scattered across the country.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 20, 2011 from 4:00-6:00pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734 (512) 263-1511.

A Funeral Service Celebrating the Life of Harriette Butcher Wells will be held on Monday, March 21, 2011 at 2:00pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 411 Ranch Road 620 South, Lakeway, TX 78734.

Special appreciation goes to Harriette's dear friends Gail and Spike Owen, Bonnie and Jim Cummings, Sharon Wander, Jennie Brassch and Bill Pohl. These friends have provided long time, bountiful love, care and fellowship to Harriette and Johnny, especially in the past couple of years during her courageous fight against cancer.

Thanks to Austin Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Harriette's memory may be made to the International Crane Foundation, E11376 Shady Lane Road, P.O. Box 351, Baraboo, WI 53913 (608) 356-9462, www.savingcranes.org