Harriette was born Jan. 18, 1944, in Halifax County, Va., and raised in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in teaching from Peabody College in Nashville (now part of Vanderbilt University) and later a master of science in teaching from Antioch University New England in New Hampshire. Her career as teacher, civil rights activist, naturalist, environmentalist and author took her to Harlem, New York; Boston, Mass.; Jackson, Miss.; New Brunswick, Canada; the San Francisco Bay area and Yosemite in California; and eventually to Alaska.

She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Cole Parker.

She is survived by her mother, Inez Parker, of South Boston, Va.; her brother Lloyd Parker of Eldred, N.Y.; her son Colin McArthur of Homer and Portland, Ore.; her husband Neil McArthur, of Homer; and by many relatives and friends across North America who remember Harriette for her kindness, creativity, helpfulness, quiet strength, gentleness, humor, always ready smile and her determined efforts for many worthy causes.

Memorial donations might be made to an environmental, civil rights or peace organization of your choice, or to Alzheimer's Disease Resource Agency of Alaska.