Lois May Harich

Founder Highland Nursery Age 94 of Saint Paul. Died February 13, 2012. Preceded in death by husband of 63 years, Henry. Survived by children, Mary Lou (Gene) Gross, Susan (Paul) Hustings, David (Sandy), Deborah (Tim) Ehlenz; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren. Lois Harich co-founded Highland Nursery, Inc. in 1947, with a borrowed tent and a cigar box for a cash register. Fifty-five years later her legacy continues. Lois Harich also organized Highland Park Community Civic Leaders in 1950's to form the Highland Recreation Association (HRA). HRA later joined with Groveland Community to form the present Highland Groveland Recreation Association (HGRA). HGRA is now the model for all volunteer recreation associations in the USA. Lois spent part of her youth in California where tennis courts and baseball fields were the norm. When she returned to St. Paul the recreation areas were noticeable absent. At the time, in Highland Village, the only recreation area that Hillcrest Playground had to offer was a box car with a pot bell stove for heat during the winter skating season and no bathrooms or running water. In contrast, the East Side of St. Paul had numerous playgrounds for youth recreation. The East Side of St. Paul came to the support of the Highland Area to receive funding when they realized the inequity of Highland's facilities. Lois and many volunteers also organized the Highgrove Follies to raise money for equipment for the HGRA. When the city budgeted for a basic cinder block recreation center, the HGRA asked to have these funds put into escrow until funds could support a decent building. Hillcrest Playground is now attached to the Highland Library and is open year round with ball courts, craft rooms and meeting rooms, etc. Currently, Hillcrest Public Library and Recreation Center is the result of a vision and action of a mother and others who dreamed and worked to make life better for the community. She was a dedicated mother and active in the Republican party. Mass of Christian Burial 11AM Friday, February 17 (visitation begins at 10AM) at MATERNITY OF MARY, 1414 N. Dale St., St Paul. Interment Roselawn Cemetery. Memorials preferred to Alzheimer's Assoc., MN Chapter or American Cancer Society, MN Chapter.

Tributes

Lois May Harich

April 10, 1917 - February 13, 2012

Tributes

Lois May Harich

April 10, 1917 - February 13, 2012

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