Harriet "Hattie" Schutzwohl-Kolias

Harriet (Hattie) Schutzwohl-Kolias, age 84, of Grants Pass, Oregon, died on May 2nd, 2014 at Rogue Regional Medical Center as a result of complications arising from a heart attack.

Harriet was born on February 10th, 1930 in Grants Pass to Franz and Nellie Schutzwohl, who were early settlers in the Redwood Area of Grants Pass and prominent breeders of registered Jersey Cattle. During her childhood, she grew up on the family dairy farm, was active in 4-H dairy clubs and attended local schools.

Following her graduation from Grants Pass High School in 1948, she married Philip Spurling, who was the son of dairy farmers Alfred and Clara Spurling of the Jerome Prairie area. She was subsequently widowed in 1952, becoming a single mother to her three year old daughter, Ann. Prior to Philip's death, Harriet had intended to continue her father's work as a Jersey Cattle breeder, but with a young daughter to support she was forced to reconsider and enrolled at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa. After graduation, she returned to the West Coast and attended Southern Oregon College in Ashland to finish her education to become a teacher.
In 1954, she married the late Martin Anderson at Payette, Idaho. The couple had three children, Carol, Bob and Joy, but later divorced. During the 1960's, she married the late Kenneth Arnold, which marriage also ended in divorce.

Following a tenure as a substitute teacher at various local schools, Harriet began her full time teaching career during the 1960's starting at Merlin Elementary School, until transferring to Murphy Elementary School in 1972 where she taught 5th grade until 1977. In 1977, Harriet began teaching Social Studies at Lincoln Savage Middle School and remained there until she retired from teaching in 1984. Harriet was well liked by her students and she enjoyed taking her classes on field trips to a group of ponds which were located on the old Schutzwohl Dairy.
In 1973, Harriet married Steve Kolias, who survives her and to whom she was married for forty years.

Starting in 1948, Harriet became interested in breeding Boston Terriers after becoming familiar with them in the home of her mother-in-law, Clara Spurling. What began as a simple fascination and 4-H projects for the kids, soon developed into a very serious venture which Harriet shared with her daughter, Ann, for the rest of their lives. Much as her father had done with his Jersey Cattle, after much hard work and “paying their dues” for awhile, their kennel, SunGlo Bostons, eventually became famous to dog breeders around the world. In addition to breeding numerous champions, both for conformation shows and obedience trial events, they also exported several top dogs to Europe, Japan, the Philippines and other places. Today, descendents of their Boston Terriers can be found around the world. Harriet's interest as a breeder allowed her to travel to dog shows extensively. She particularly enjoyed traveling to the Boston Terrier Club of America's annual National Specialty Show and her presence was much missed when her age finally made such trips too difficult for her to attend.

Harriet was also very active in the Re-Organized Church of Latter Day Saints (now known as Community of Christ), which she first joined in the late 1940's. She later became an ordained minister in the church.

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, Franz and Nellie Schutzwohl; her son Robert Anderson; her sister Marjorie Glenn; two nephews, Ricky Woolsey and Denny Woolsey; and her daughter Ann Spurling-Roark, all of Grants Pass, Oregon, as well as by her previous husbands, Philip Spurling, Martin Anderson and Kenneth Arnold.

She is survived by her husband, Steve Kolias; a sister, Marie Hutchins; daughters Carol Anderson-Spurling and Joy Ivie all of Grants Pass; a step-son Nick Kolias of Grants Pass; three step-daughters, Vickie McGregor and Ronnie Kolias of Grants Pass, and Teresa Kolias of Newport; a nephew, Dale Hutchins of Grants Pass, and a niece, Karen Pritchett, also of Grants Pass. She also leaves behind fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to: Camp Remote, Harriet Kolias Memorial Fund, c/o Stella Myers, PO Box 555, Yoncalla, Oregon 97499.

A Celebration of Life and potluck will be held at noon on June 21st, 2014, at Fruitdale Grange at 1440 Parkdale Drive in Grants Pass. Please bring a dish of your choice for the potluck.