Obituary of Harriett Louise Wiedebusch Raese

Harriett Louise Wiedebusch Raese, 86, passed away after a long extended illness on June 5, 2013. Harriett was born and raised in Morgantown, a descendent of early settlers of Monongalia County. Her maternal grandmother was one of the counties first school teachers and her paternal grandfather was a pioneer entrepreneur in mechanical contracting. Maternal ancestry was Daughters of the American Revolution. A lifelong resident of Morgantown, she was born on December 24, 1926 to Amy Deborah and Charles Kerr Wiedebusch. She graduated from Morgantown High School, West Virginia University and was also a member of Alpha XI Delta Sorority. She was a talented young artist and studied in the summers at the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She pursued her talent and traveled to California after college to become an expert painter and designed original blouses for many Hollywood stars. She later returned to Morgantown pursing graduate work and taught art at Morgantown High School. Because her love for the arts, Harriett was active in the community through the Monongalia Arts Center, being instrumental in the development of children's programs and professional appearances in art, music, theatre and dance. She served as Director of the MAC for 11 years. Fund raisers to continue the growth of the center was an ongoing processsuch as annual antique shows, Christmas galas and various summer events. Her husband Richard A. "Dyke" Raese played a pivotal role in supporting these events for MAC. Harriett represented Monongalia County and the state as Ms. Senior West Virginia at the 1990 pageant. She loved golfing, dancing with her husband and also helped form the Morgantown Racquet Club with other local tennis players and was a former club champion. She participated in numerous cancer research fundraising drives during the 1970's. She was also a talented pianist and composer. She wrote the music and lyrics for her presentation at the Ms. Senior West Virginia Pageant and also wrote love songs for her husband. She is survived two sons, Charles Dickinson Raese and granddaughter Amelia Morgan, Robert Arlington Raese and wife Paula Kay Raese; two stepsons, John Reeves Raese and wife Elizabeth Raese; granddaughters, Jane Greer and Agnes Reeves Raese, David Aubrey Raese and wife Kathleen Raese, grandchildren, Rebecca, Ethan, Adam, and Isabel; Uncle Walter Raese and family, Jack Raese and wife Reiko and the late Mary Jean Maroney and family; sister-in-law, Mary Kathryne "Kacy" Wiedebusch, niece Carole Jean Wiedebusch, nephew Charles Edward Wiedebusch and wife Heidi (Bartlett), sons, Charles Jackson Wiedebusch and James Gray Wiedebusch. She is also survived by her loving and special friends, Anna and Donna Haseleu and Barb Dalton. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Richard Aubrey "Dyke" Raese; stepson, Richard Greer Raese; her brother, Charles Edward Wiedebusch; cousin, Deborah Gordon Mortazavi; several aunts, uncles, and cousins in the families of Hunter, Malcomson, and Gordon. Family and friends will be received at the First Presbyterian Church, 456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 10 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 am. with Reverend John Sonnenday and Reverend Kris Haig officiating. Interment will take place at 3:30 pm on Saturday at the family cemetery, Seneca Caverns, Riverton, Pendelton County, WV. The Raese family requests that any and all donations be made to the R.A. "Dyke" Raese Scholarship, WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, PO Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507 or to the Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute (BRNI), Eight Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505-3409. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.