Harriet Ann Embrey

Harriet Ann Embrey (Russell), 83, of Frederick, Maryland passed away peacefully at home with her beloved family by her side following a brief illness.

Born on February 6, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama, she was the daughter of the late Col. Harry C. Russell, Sr. and Frances Caldwell Jester. Harriet spent her childhood as a military kid living in Texas, Michigan, and ultimately graduating high school on Clark Airforce Base in the Philippines. Harriet had the best stories about living overseas.

After graduation, Harriet lived in California for many years, attending Long Beach State and San Diego State. A gifted storyteller, Harriet would crack her kids and grandkids up when she reminisced about spending $80 a semester on college tuition and living on Nilla Wafers and Tequila as a college student.

Harriet was a devoted stay at home mom for many years, often chaperoning her kid’s field trips, volunteering at school, or selling milk in the school cafeteria. Harriet was the original “extreme couponer” when her kids were growing up, going to different stores in Frederick to find the best deal or “double coupon” bargain. Her kids were often left bewildered while looking for canned goods in the house, as the labels had been removed so she could submit them for a manufacturer’s rebate. Was it beans? Was it soup? No one knew 😊. She always saved the money she earned for special gifts for her husband and kids.

In the early 90s she started working outside the home, spending many years with Frederick Trading Company. She joined Bechtel Power Corporation in 1999 and spent sixteen years as a Document Control Specialist before retiring in 2015.

Harriet was a devoted wife, mother, sister, Hattie to her grandchildren, and friend. Harriet was so proud of her family. She was also a diehard Redskins fan! Her family is grateful she was able to see the Redskins have a successful 2024-2025 season. The word Commanders was never uttered in Harriet’s home, they will always be the Redskins. In the 80’s she discovered a picture of Joe Gibbs in her San Diego State yearbook, which won her a trip to a taping of The Joe Gibbs Show .

Fiercely independent until the end, she spent her retirement years traveling with her close friend Sue to locations such as Bermuda, Bahamas, London, Paris, Italy, Switzerland, and Nova Scotia. It wasn’t uncommon for Harriet to drive 12 hours straight to visit her daughter and her family when they lived in Tennessee.

A recent highlight was a trip last year with her friend Rosemarie to Iceland, where she fulfilled a lifetime dream of standing between two tectonic plates and sitting in the Blue Lagoon. Harriet always said if things had been different for females in her day, she would have been a Geologist. Infinitely curious, her goal in retirement, besides eating copious amounts of chocolate, was to learn something new each week, which she excitedly shared with her family. She also loved watching the Curse of Oak Island.

She is survived by her son, Jason Embrey and his wife Jill, of Grasonville Maryland, daughter, Jennifer Edmonston and husband Bert, of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. Grandchildren; Kendall Embrey, Caroline Embrey, Bert Edmonston, and Edith Edmonston, and her brother Harry C. Russell, Jr., of Frederick, Maryland. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur L. Embrey.

A private family celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

If you wish, donations may be made in her honor to Frederick Health Hospice (Donate & Support | Frederick Health Hospice) or 1 Frederick Health Way, Frederick, MD 21701 or to the American Cancer Society (Donate | American Cancer Society.