Harriet Herd

Harriet Daniel (Mrs. Harvey) Herd died October 6 at Midland Memorial Hospital. She was 86. Harriet Daniel was born in Temple, Texas and graduated from Temple High School in 1934. She attended Sweetbriar College and graduated from the University of Texas in 1938 with a B.A. with honors in Psychology. She taught public school music in LaGrange, Texas, in 1938-39 before marrying John Harvey Herd in 1940. They moved to Midland where they lived together until her death.

Harriet Herd was active in her community and her church. She organized the Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association in Midland and was President of the Junior League of Midland for two terms.

Mrs. Herd served as organizing chairman of the Family Counseling Service and received a citation for ten years of service. She served as a member of the board of directors and as vice president of Midland and Odessa Symphony and Chorale for many years. She served as a board member of the Midland County Library and of the Friends of the Library, served on the Board of Governors of the Midland Community Theater, and appeared in three musicals. She served as organizing chairman of the Midland-Odessa Symphony Young Artists Competition in 1964 and in 1966. She served on the organizing board of the Permian Civic Ballet Association in 1967. She served as Chairman of Arts and Recreation Committee for the Objectives for Midland in 1967 and on the Religious Committee for Objectives in 1980.

Harriet received the Golden Deeds Award from the Exchange Club in 1967. She was the organizing chairman of Women's Fitness Center at the YMCA and served on the Board of Directors of the Central YMCA and on the Metropolitan Board in the 1970s.

Mrs. Herd was a prominent and active member of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity. She sang in the choir for twenty years. She served as President of the Churchwomen of Holy Trinity, of the Diocese of Northwest Texas, and for the Seventh Province of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Herd served as the first woman elected to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Northwest Texas and as the first woman elected as a deputy to National General Convention. She also served her church as a member of the vestry and as Senior Warden of the vestry. Harriet was a member of Community Bible Study for over 20 years.

Harriet attended the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 1967, 1969, 1970, and 1973, representing the church women and, in 1976 and 1979, as deputy for the diocese. She served for many years as Parliamentarian for the Diocese of Northwest Texas and was a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians.

Mrs. Herd was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames of America, Magna Carta Dames, and the Knights of Malta. She served on the Texas Arts Commission and the Board of Trustees of the Permian Basin Area Foundation. She and Harvey received the Family Philanthropy Award in 2003.

Mrs. Herd is survived by her husband of 64 years, Harvey Herd; children, Tevis Herd and wife Patty Herd of Midland, Claire Crumbley and husband Alex of Mc Donough, Georgia, and Dan Herd and wife Paula of Austin; grandchildren, Holly Herd, John Tevis Herd and wife Chesly Herd, Alex Crumbley and wife Alisa Kreynes, Jason Herd, and Valerie Herd; great-grandchildren, Austin Herd, Carrie Herd, Callie Herd, and Kathryn Herd. She was preceded in death by her parents, Pearl and John B. Daniel, Sr., her sisters Doris D. Powell, Claire D. Maze, her brother John B. Daniel, Jr., and her grandson Daniel Parker Herd.

Memorial services have been scheduled for 2:00 P.M. Friday, October 8, 2004 at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity. Arrangements are under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to the Harriet D. Herd Memorial Fund at the Permian Basin Area Foundation, 550 West Texas Ave., Suite 1260, Midland, TX 79701, or a charity of your choice.