Avis M. HOUGHTALING

Avis M. HOUGHTALING, 96, formerly of Potter Brook Road, Westfield, PA and Ulysses, PA, died Saturday, October 4, 2014 in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport, PA. Born December 27, 1917, in Elmira, NY, she was the daughter of Clarence and Grace Abbey Little. She was the salutatorian of the 1936 graduating class of Westfield High School. On August 7, 1936, in Wellsville, NY, she married Basil W. Houghtaling, who predeceased her in 1986. Mrs. Houghtaling and her husband owned and operated a dairy farm in Potter Brook and were partners with her parents in the Houghtaling & Little General Store. She was employed as a secretary by Galeton Production and Cole Chevrolet in Westfield. Avis was a partner in Christian ministry with her husband, who served as pastor of the West Bingham Community Church for 13 years. She was a member of the Potter Brook People's Church, the Potter Brook Happy Hour Club, and served as a Westfield School Board Director, Westfield Township Board of Election Majority Inspector, and Westfield Township Republican Committeewoman. Her interests included writing poetry, reading, and painting. She authored and published two books of poetry, Rara Avis and Traces of Love. Surviving are: a daughter, Elaine (Bernard) Atwell of Westfield; a son-in-law, Robert (Dianne) Olney of Westfield; seven grandchildren, Gay Michelle Knight of Cuyahoga Falls, OH, Mitzi (Kelly) Burdick of Sabinsville, PA, Kitty (David) Piccotti of Mountain Top, PA, Tracy (Darcy) Atwell of Westfield, Wesley (Connie) Olney of Coudersport, PA, Benjamin R. (Sheila) Olney of Ulysses, and Kirk Atwell of Westfield; 13 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Wilma (Rev. Paul) Marsh of Harrison, TN; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Little of Buffalo, NY; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a daughter, Barbara Joy Olney in 1985; brothers and sister-in-law, Edwin E. (Ruth) Little and William A. Little; and sister and brother-in-law, Rowena (Howard) Stafford. Friends may call Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:00 PM at the Olney Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ulysses, PA. Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Thursday in the Potter Brook People's Church. Rev. Duane Burdick will officiate. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Potter Brook. Memorials may be made to the Ulysses Library Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 316, Ulysses, PA 16948 or the Potter Brook People's Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 217, Westfield, PA 16950. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfuneralhome.com.