Harriet Sherman Fortier, 94, of Woodbine Road passed away at her home in Carlisle on May 14, 2025, surrounded by her family.

Harriet (known by many friends and family as "Happy") was born in Arlington, Massachusetts to Beatrice (Moseley) and Alden Sherman. She was raised in Winchester, Massachusetts and attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine majoring in history.

She met her husband, the late Keith Fortier, while working as a Technical Librarian at MIT in Cambridge, Mass.

Harriet was Election Warden in Carlisle for 27 years and also volunteered her time at the Gleason Public Library, the Carlisle Mosquito, and as a Girl Scout troop leader. In 2007 she received the Outstanding Citizen Award at Carlisle Old Home Day.

She was also a very gifted artist and knitter, producing beautiful pencil images of family vacations and knitting blankets and sweaters for family members and friends. She was a legend in her Woodbine Road neighborhood for her baking skills - neighborhood children always knew there would be fresh, home- baked cookies in the Fortier cookie jar when they stopped by. She instilled in her daughters her love and reverence for nature, creativity and especially for reading (anything by Jane Austen and in particular "Pride and Prejudice").

Harriet leaves her daughters Rebecca Fortier of Carlisle, Deborah Kelley of Morgan Hill, California and grandson Brett Kelley of San Diego, California as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Harriet's memory may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society , 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773.

Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.