Winifred Prouty

BROOKLINE, Vt. -- Winifred Elliott Haartz Prouty, 99, of Brookline, died Aug. 20, 2008, following a bountiful life.

She was born on Jan. 20, 1909, to G. Weston and Edna (Pratt) Elliott in Scituate, Mass. As a young girl she would travel with her mother, a seamstress, in horse and cart to people's homes for whom her mother was sewing.

She graduated high school in 1925 and received her bachelor's degree from Gordon College in Boston in 1929. Over the years she worked serving the Lord as a Christian educator, a banker, a store owner, a real estate agent and a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Family includes two sons, Luther W. Haartz of Thornton, N.H., "Krazy" Karl F. Haartz and his wife Carol, also, of Thornton; a daughter, Marsha Haartz Omand and her husband Dick of Brookline; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Louis O. Haartz of 34 years, and her second husband, John O. Prouty of 19 years, a son, Elliott W. Haartz, and a grandson, Louis O. Haartz, II. She is, also survived by many step-children, step-grandchildren, and step-great-grandchildren.

IN HER LIFE: Always on her face was a smile and her attitude was always fine, even if she had been run over by a car, which did happen. Her by word was "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." With this philosophy, she was always very fair and non-judgmental. The Campton Women's Club and singing in the Pemi Choral were other pastimes.

This fine lady was a very active member of the First Baptist Church, Scituate, Mass. and Campton, N.H.; the Pemi-Valley Baptist, Woodstock, N.H., and the Methodist Church, Warren, N.H. Also, she served in the American Baptist Convention and American Baptist Women in Massachussets and New Hampshire. In her spare time her travels took her to all of the U.S., Western Europe, and even Africa, with friends and family. All along the way bird watching was her hobby, which she passed on to the generations.

SERVICES: A graveside service is Saturday at 1 p.m. at Mad River Cemetery, Mad River Road, Campton/Thornton , N.H. There are to be no calling hours at this time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Baptist Convention of VT & NH, One Oak Ridge Road, B3, #4A, West Lebanon, NH 03784, or the Visiting Nurses Association & Hospice of VT/NH, 38 Pleasant Street, Springfield, VT 05156.

Arrangements are under the care of the White Funeral Home of Townshend, Vt.