Harriette Anne Witherspoon passed away peacefully in her home on February 27, 2016 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Harriette was born on June 6, 1928, in Van Horn, Texas to John Lester and Meda (Garner) Dodson. The family settled in Del Rio, Texas where her father practiced law.
She attended Del Rio High School where she served as drum major of the band. While in high school she dated her childhood sweetheart, Herschel Witherspoon, who lived thirty miles away in Quemado, Texas. After graduation in 1945, Harriette attended the University of Texas at Austin. She continued her relationship with Herschel while he attended Texas A&M University.
On September 8, 1948 Harriette and Herschel were married in Del Rio after he returned from military service. After their wedding they moved to Kingsville, Texas where they both continued their education at Texas A&I (now known as Texas A&M Kingsville).
After graduation in 1951, they moved to Quemado, Texas to farm. Harriette also worked various jobs, including clerical work for the Department of Labor and substitute teaching.
Harriette and Herschel were blessed with three children: Harriette Anne, Richard Baird and John Douglas “Peto” Witherspoon. In 1960, the family relocated to McKinney, Texas and in 1962, Harriette and Herschel purchased their first restaurant, the Dairy Queen in McKinney. The first purchase led to the couple growing their restaurant business over the next forty plus years with multiple restaurants throughout Northeast Texas still in operation today.
Harriette was a devoted mother and committed to rearing her three children while supporting her husband and their business ventures. In McKinney, Harriette was a member of the First United Methodist Church for over fifty-six years where she taught Sunday school in the kindergarten department and was in the United Methodist Women group. She was a Campfire leader and a member of Owl Forum, Wednesday Book Review, The Willow Largent Garden Club, and various other civic and social groups.
Harriette loved to entertain her family and friends as well as those friends of her children in her home. She was an excellent cook and her home was always an inviting place for all. She was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling.
She enjoyed sports, especially those in which her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were involved. Her love for football began with her daughter’s involvement with the McKinney High School drill team and both her son’s participation with the McKinney Lions football team.
Harriette was a loving and caring daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. She was loved by many but her greatest love was that of her husband whom she met in childhood and to which she remained devoted to throughout her life.
Harriette was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, a brother, her son, John “Peto” Witherspoon and daughter-in-law, Worthie Witherspoon.
She is survived by her husband, Herschel Witherspoon of McKinney, Texas; daughter, Anne Holloway and husband, Mike of Emory, Texas; son, Richard Witherspoon of Mt. Pleasant, Texas; daughter-in-law, Teresa Witherspoon of McKinney, Texas; grandchildren, John Richard Holloway, Michelle (Holloway) Alexander, Richie Witherspoon, Conoly Witherspoon, Harrison Witherspoon, and Marianne Witherspoon; great-grandchildren, John Matthew, Lauren and Luke Holloway, Taylor Anne and Addison Alexander; numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
The family would like to thank Dr. Billy Borning, Jr., Hospice, and the private caregivers who were so helpful in the last years of Harriette’s life.
A memorial service will be held 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5, 2016 at First United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas. A reception will follow in the church parlor.
Memorials may be to the First United Methodist Church of McKinney, Texas.