She was born November 22, 1917 in Morton to Esper and Anna Fairhart. Her family returned to Lebanon in 1920 and she completed her education becoming fluent in English, French and Arabic. A daring escape from an abusive relationship lead her to Haifa, Israel where she taught English and typing. After her parents passed away (Anna in 1932 and Esper in 1942 leaving eight siblings), her uncle, William (Uncle Bill) requested she work in his business with him, other siblings and cousins in Morton. In 1947 she returned to Morton and worked in the store until it closed in 1986. The Fairhart Store had been with the family in the same location for 75 years. She and her sisters made homemade items for the store and they taught customers knitting, crocheting, embroidery, sewing and cake decorating, although Melberna excelled at them all. Melberna was a member of the Eastern Star and Daughters of the Nile. Her talents and love for family did not decrease and even at the age of 97 she filled two hope chests with handmade goods for her grandchildren when their home was burned to the ground. She was a renowned cook and fed large groups with delicious homemade meals from her kitchen with fresh items from her garden and bread from scratch. Some family favorites were Baklava, Marzipan, the birthday cakes in any theme (Barbie, cars, trains), fabulous wedding cakes that stretched the length of a banquet table, handmade sweaters for each family member, Easter egg hunts complete with special sweets and colored chicks and her beautiful Christmas stockings individualized with each person’s hobbies/interests. Melberna loved flowers and grew beautiful dahlias, roses and rhododendrons. The family secretly called her Martha Stewart. There was always a place at the table for whomever dropped in, especially on holidays. She was a devout Christian and member of Morton Sacred Heart Church and continued practicing her faith at the Senior Living Communities in Kennewick after her husband passed away. Always a giving person she handed out Dove promises daily to residents and visitors via her secret handshake. She called them American fortune cookies!
Melberna was an extraordinary, generous and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunty. Her generosity was exemplified in making gifts for family and friends. She was vibrant and energetic, and she enjoyed community events including hosting the Shriners during Jubilee and surprising many families with young children on Christmas Eve as Mrs. Claus with her husband as Santa. She inspired others to live by her three magic words: attitude, gratitude and hope.
Melberna married Henry (Hap) Hathaway on November 15 in 1955 and enjoyed 55 years of marriage. Henry worked in real estate and also owned Hap’s Coffee Cup Cafe in Morton. They had one daughter, Malvina Ann Goodwin (Larry) who lives in West Richland, Washington.
She is survived by her Daughter, Malvina “Annie” Goodwin (Larry) of West Richland, her Grandson Garrett Goodwin (Kathryn) and Great Grandson Isaac of West Richland, Granddaughter Halle of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Henry (Hap) Hathaway and her brothers, Marcel, Mike, Raymond and Weygand Fairhart and sisters, Madeline and Wilhelmina Fairhart, Mamie Kareh and Marguerite Akl.
A funeral mass for Melberna will be held on Friday August 24th at 11:00am at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will follow the mass at Morton Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Brown Mortuary Service in Morton.
Donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
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