Astri Jarrett

Astri Larsen Jarrett, 89, Myrtle Beach, SC formerly of Oak Hill, WV died Tuesday April 26, 2005 at Myrtle Beach Manor. Born in Risor, Norway, June 14, 1915, Astrid Erike Larsen was the daughter of the late Captain Lauritz and Wilhelmine Olsen Larsen. She immigrated to the United States in 1935 at the age of twenty. In 1940, she received her RN degree from Garfield Memorial Hospital School of Nursing (now Washington Hospital Center) in Washington, DC. She met Dr. Joe N. Jarrett, a medical intern, in a typing class at Central Night High School in 1937. They were married Dec. 28, 1940, at the National City Christian Church, with the groom's father, Rev. Charles N. Jarrett, officiating. In 1941. Joe and Astri moved to Oak Hill, West Virginia, where Joe was in medical practice. In 1942, Joe enlisted in the United States Army Medical Corps. and the couple was stationed first in Miami Beach, Florida, and later in Madison. Wisconsin. But little Oak Hill beckoned after Joe's Army discharge, and they returned to settle there where they remained until health problems required a move to Myrtle Beach. They enjoyed a devoted and loving 64 years of marriage until Joe's death last year on April 27. After her children were of school age, Astri would assist in Joe's practice. In 1966 she was awarded her B.A. degree summa cum laude from West Virginia Institute of Technology at Montgomery, and in 1976 her M.A. in education from West Virginia University. She was employed as a substitute teacher in the Fayette County Public Schools from 1966 to 1993. Astri was active in many community service organizations, beginning with her membership from 1941 in the Fayette County Medical Society Auxiliary. She played a prominent role at the county, state and national levels of the Auxiliary, serving in all offices of the County Auxiliary prior to her election as President of the West Virginia State Medical Association Auxiliary in 1969. She also served as chairman of Press and Publicity, Recording Secretary, and Regional Vice-president; and as Historian she completed and published Half A Century I925-1975: The Fifty-year History of the Auxiliary to the West Virginia State Medical Association. At the national level, she served from 1970-75 as Eastern Region Health Chairman. She joined the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Hill in 1941, and remained an active and committed member for the rest of her life. She was an enthusiastic soprano in the choir, and frequent soloist, for fifty-five years. She taught Sunday school, and served as President of the Women of the Church,Historian and Chairman of Church Extension of the Synod of West Virginia, and Treasurer of the Synod of Young Adults. In Norway she had been a Girl Scout, and her interest in this movement led her to service in the Fayette County Girl Scout Council as President and member of the Board of Directors, and as Secretary of the Mountain Laurel Girl Scout Council. She was a past President of the Woodland Oaks Garden Club, the Fayette County Study Club, and the Oak Hill PTA. She was a member of the AAUW, and served as a volunteer counselor working with juveniles under the jurisdiction of Judge Charles L. Garvin of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court. She was a past Director of the Board of Directors of the Tech Foundation of West Virginia Institute of Technology. One of her proudest achievements was being named West Virginia's Most Outstanding Citizen of Foreign Birth by the National Daughters of the American Revolution for the year 1969-70. Since her husband was an avid pilot of small planes, Astri took it upon herself to earn her pilot's license, originally to assist Joe in case of an emergency. She earned her Pinch-hitter Certificate in 1965, became a full-fledged private pilot in 1972, and upgraded that to Commercial Pilot two years later. She became the first female pilot in West Virginia to be appointed Accident Prevention Counselor by the Federal Aviation Administration, and earned the coveted Safety Pin Award. She passed away peacefully on April 26 at the Reminiscence Wing of Myrtle Beach Manor. She was predeceased by her brothers Sigfried, Lauritz, Jacob and Wilhelm. She leaves behind four children, daughter, Sandra Jarrett of Scientists Cliffs, MD, son, William Scott Jarrett and his wife, Rieko, of Japan, son, Joe Nelson Jarrett, Jr., and his wife, Nancy, of Myrtle Beach, SC, and daughter, Jennifer Jarrett Moroney and her husband, Charles, of Marathon, FL; Grandchildren Flynn Jarrett and his wife Lori of Jacksonville, FL, Luke Jarrett and his wife, Kelley Anne, of Charleston, SC, Kelly Jo Jarrett Catanese and her husband Michael of Charlotte, NC, and Jennifer Maria Ringdal of Annapolis, MD; and great-grandson Everett Nelson Jarrett; as well as her brother- and sister-in-law Robert and Cecelia Jarrett of Charlotte, NC. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday April 29, 2005 at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Hill, West Virginia with burial following at High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, WV. The family will receive friends at Tyree Funeral Home in Oak Hill from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday April 28, 2005. Memorial donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Hill, 250 Central Avenue, Oak Hill, WV, 25901, or the charity of one's choice.