Obituary: Harriet Lillard Blyler, 73, of NJ

Harriet Lillard Blyler, 73, of the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township, died on Wednesday, July 11, 2012.

Mrs. Blyler was a vibrant, loving and generous spirit who delighted in caring for and giving to others. Her greatest joys were raising her family, teaching young children, and bringing happiness and comfort to her family and friends.

She loved the ocean, animals, flowers, sewing, crafts, music, Princeton University, sports in general and college basketball in particular, shopping at Filene’s Basement, and the Red Sox.

She was born in Boston and grew up in Sharon, Mass. She attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in education.

She worked as a teacher in Sharon, Mass., Marshallton, Del., and West Windsor, and as a substitute teacher and teacher’s aide in the Bernards Township public schools.

She lived for 43 years in Basking Ridge.

She is survived by Lee Blyler, her husband of nearly 50 years, whom she grew up with in Sharon, Mass., and began dating in college; her two daughters, Allison Lee Blyler of Cambridge, Mass., and Kristin Rebecca Blyler of Portland, Ore.; three sisters, Jennifer Lillard of Mill Valley, Calif., Marianne Lillard of Hanover, N.H., and Susan Hale of Swanzey, N.H.;  a brother, Walter Houston Lillard III, of Lake Sherwood, Calif.; her mother-in-law, Evelyn Blyler of Cape Coral, Fla.; her sisters-in-law, Patricia Lillard and Nancy Blyler, and brothers-in-law, Michael Hoyt, Richard Hale and Merlin Pfannkuch; her sons-in-law, Bill Naumann and Lawrence Takeuchi; and eight nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by the Gallaway and Crane Funeral Home in Basking Ridge.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills, 200 Mount Airy Road, Basking Ridge, N.J., 07920.