Hettie S. Sholler ... formerly of Lebanon; at 86

MAULDIN, S.C. - Hettie S. Sholler, 86, recently of Mauldin, And formerly of Lebanon, Maine, died peacefully in her sleep on July 18, 2024, in Mauldin.

Named after her grandmother Hettie Risenhoover, she was born Sept. 16, 1937, in Walnut Ridge, Ark., of Ernest W. Gould and Susie Risenhoover Gould. She spent her formative years in Arkansas, one of eight children in a family that struggled to make ends meet in the aftermath of the Great Depression.

When one of her siblings moved to Connecticut seeking better opportunities, Hettie followed about a year later, with the remainder of the family eventually joining them. Even though she spent most of her life in New England, there was always a part of her that retained her Southern origins.

She spent her teen years in Connecticut working several different jobs, the most memorable in a jewelry company, and found gratification in earning to be able to buy her own clothes.

While still in her teens she met Fred Sholler on a double date and their attraction was immediate and mutual. From that point on, the two had eyes only for each other, even when Fred moved to California with a buddy of his. When he wrote asking her if she would marry him if he moved back to Connecticut, she replied, "Move back and find out!"

Move back he did! They were married May 4, 1956, and proceeded to have four children in eight years. She loved, supported, and poured her life into her family, taking care of the home and children while Fred worked as many as three jobs at a time.

When their children were old enough to attend Sunday School, Fred and Hettie took them to church, and through attending they came to know Jesus Christ as their Savior. As their children grew, they also grew in their relationship with the Lord and strived to build a home and family that loved and served Him.

Desiring to rear their children in Maine, they took an opportunity to move back to Fred's home state and remained there until his passing in 2019. They enjoyed many years worshiping and serving at North Lebanon Second Baptist Church.

Hettie's first job in Maine was working in the school cafeteria, with most of her working career spent at General Electric in Somersworth, N.H., until she retired due to disability. She enjoyed many years of attending basketball, football, volleyball games, wrestling matches, plays, concerts, graduations, and other events to support her children and grandchildren as long as she was physically able.

Through the years Hettie diligently and lovingly cared and prayed for her family. She made Fred's final days comforting by accommodating his desire to sit as close to her as he could get, holding her hand. Shortly after Fred's death she moved to South Carolina to be cared for, and she enjoyed living with family and having visits from grandchildren, meeting new great-grandchildren, then eventually making new friends in an Assisted Living facility. Much gratitude to the staff at The Palmettos in Mauldin for the excellent care she received in her final months.

We are thankful for the confidence that she is with her Lord and Savior and that we will see her again one day.

Hettie is predeceased by her parents Ernest W. and Susie Gould, siblings Juanita Karsmarski, Ernest R. Gould, Geneva Staschke, and Bill Gould, sons Daniel Sholler and Dwayne Sholler, daughter-in-law Pamela Sholler, and her husband Frederick Sholler.

She is survived by siblings Imogene Barbetta, Thomas Gould, and Bobby Gould, son David Sholler and his wife Nancy, daughter Diane Brazier and her husband Clark, daughter-in-law Priscilla Sholler, grandchildren Taylor Sholler, Colby Sholler, Aimee Smith, Courtney Sholler, Jeremie Sholler, Chet Brazier, and Hettie Brazier, and 10 great-grandchildren.