Miriam Evelyn Pruess Harter, 94, was born in October 1916 in Palo Alto, Calif., and passed away Thursday, March 10, 2011, in Atascadero. Her father, Morris Otto Pruess, was born in Visalia, Calif., in 1889 and came with his family to Paso Robles in the early 1890s. Her mother, Claudia Leona Dowell, was born in 1893 and raised in Arroyo Grande.

Miriam was raised in Arroyo Grande, attended the University of Southern California, then married Charles E. "Bud" Harter.

They moved to Atascadero in 1942, when Bud was transferred from the Santa Maria branch of the Bank of America. Bud preceded her in death in 1996.

During World War II, Miriam knitted and rolled bandages for the Red Cross and worked as an airplane spotter. She was also part of a fruit packing crew of women and worked in the apricot drying shed, filling in for the men serving in the military.

In 1946, she and Bud bought Morgan's Dry Goods, which they operated for 17 years. They then purchased Osos Liquor in San Luis Obispo, where she worked until they retired and were able to travel across the United States.

Miriam was a member of the Atascadero Historical Society and the San Luis Obispo County Genealogy Society, where she served as bulletin editor and worked in the Genealogy Library.

She was a serious bridge player and played with various groups through the years. Also an avid golfer, she was an original member of the Atascadero Women's Golf Club and also belonged to the Paso Robles Club.

She also delivered Meals on Wheels, rang the Salvation Army Bell and not one to have idle hands, served, knitted and completed many needlework projects.

Often, the card table was set up with a jigsaw puzzle in addition to the crossword puzzle books she had at hand.