Member of the Month
January 2010

Our Member of the Month of January, 2010 is Harriet Elizabeth Guyer Downing. Harriet was born on October 21, 1926 in Plattsburg, MO.

Harriet attended elementary school at Victory school in Plattsburg, MO and graduated from Lafayette high school in St. Joseph, MO in 1944. After high school Harriet said she began nursing school but never finished because she got married.

Harriet joined Village Christian Church in 1954. She is very active in all church activities, and has been on numerous committees. She has served as Elder chair, Children’s Education chair, and Education chair. She currently is Deacon co-chair. Her favorite hymn is ”He’s Still Working on Me”.

Harriet has worked as a department store clerk, she was an employee of Jersey Cereal Company where they made and boxed cereal. In 1957 she began working for Dr. Earl Weibel and later for Dr. Doug Sowell. She retired in 2000 after working 43 years in the same office.

Harriet has 3 sons, Paul Combes, Steve Combes and Terry Combes who passed away in 2007. She has three granddaughters and one grandson. She also has one great granddaughter and two great great granddaughters.

Harriet likes Mexican food and enjoys going to Chelino’s. She also likes reading, gardening and going to Houston to be with family.

I asked Harriet what is a lesson that life has taught you and her reply was "Don’t sweat the small stuff. When the bumps come along just go with the flow."

Written by Anita Basinger