Harriet Jean Samuelson Rickert

Harriet J. Barnes-Rickert (née Samuelson) passed away peacefully at her residence at The Village of Ocotillo in Chandler, Arizona on December 1, 2014 at the age of 88. Harriet is survived by her children, Bruce Barnes (Helen), Brian Barnes (Joanne) and Jane Hassel and foreign exchange son Pedro Federer of Paraguay. She is also survived by her step-children, Jeff Rickert (Bonnie), David Rickert (Regina), Bruce Rickert (Luann), Sara Faust (Stan). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bryce Barnes, Sarah Hassel, Brooke Barnes, Brandon Barnes and Chase Barnes and step grand-children DJ Holmes and Harold “Skip” Thatcher III. Rickert step grandchildren are Christina, Anne, Brian, Courtney, Arturo, Stewart, Luis, Ellen, Elizabeth, John, William and Stephen. She is survived by 7 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 50 years Lee Barnes, her second husband Bill Rickert, brother Sam, sister Mildred and son-in-law Vince Hassel. Harriet was born on March 31, 1926 in Turlock, California to Carl and Mary Samuelson. She graduated from Marcus High School in Marcus, Iowa. She married Lee and worked beside him on their farm in Paullina, Iowa and later worked with him in their insurance agencies in Estherville, Iowa and Chandler, Arizona. After losing Lee in 1998, she met and married Bill and they divided their time between Waterloo, Iowa and Sun Lakes, Arizona. While living at The Village of Ocotillo Harriet served on the Residence Board, helped with the Library and was always involved in their activities. Harriet was deeply involved in the Chandler Center of the Arts. She served as the Chairwoman of the Chandler Cultural Foundation for 11 years. During that time the Center won the Governor’s Arts Award. She was also a 50-plus year member of P.E.O. A celebration of Harriet’s life will be a stop-by and share a memory at the Chandler Center of the Arts on Friday, December 12th from 1:00 to 3:00. In lieu of flowers, Harriet requested donations be made to Hospice of the Valley or the Chandler Center of the Arts. www.hov.org/donate; www.chandlercenter.org. Condolences can be posted at www.resthavenpark.com or contact Resthaven Park Mortuary at 602-437-0436. The family would like to thank The Village at Ocotillo for their years of love and care to Harriet and many thanks to the angels at Hospice of the Valley.