Louise Harper

1926 - 2025

Louise Harper

Holoke, MA - Louise Hovey Jordan Harper

A seventh generation Vermonter, Louise died peacefully with family by her side on October 30, 2025.

She was born in Burlington, Vermont on February 17, 1926, to Professor and Mrs. Hovey Jordan. A dedicated lifelong learner, she graduated from the University of Vermont in 1947.

She taught math and art in various capacities for many years, including being the art teacher at Hampshire Regional High School from 1973 – 1987. She used her rewarding art teaching career to put her five children through college.

She earned her Masters of Education from the University of Massachusetts in 1978.

She was married to Richard D. Harper from 1948 to 1978. She prided herself on being a mother to five children and raising them as individuals. She was the mother of Virginia Davis Harper, Andrew Jordan Harper, Sarah Tompkins Harper, Amy Kimball Harper and Daniel Morse Harper. She had eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

She always had an abundance of ideas and ambitions and prided herself on being a self-proclaimed "competent do-it-yourselfer". Her passion for design and architecture led to restoring an 1830's Greek revival house and converting a dilapidated barn in Amherst, into a solar heated studio space and rental property with the help of three of her children. She then went on to restore a 1795 farmhouse on a 186-acre farm in Sudbury, Vermont and raise sheep.

She was a long-time member of First Congregational Church in Amherst, Massachusetts where she served in various leadership roles, added her creative skepticism to bible study, hosted countless coffee hours, decorated the church sanctuary with colorful banners, and paper chains at Christmas.

Her love of skiing, ceramics and sculpture, gardening, sewing, playing bridge and cribbage followed her throughout her life.

For all that had the pleasure of knowing Louise, she will be remembered by her generosity of spirit, her creative and analytical mind, and her competent and loving manner.

There will be a celebration of life service in early spring at First Congregational Church in Amherst, Massachusetts.