Marjorie (Marge) Jean Haler Hettrick

Marjorie Jean Haler Hettrick (Marge) was born to Harold William Haler and Clara Louise Deiss Haler on March 19, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After a short time in West Virginia, the family settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she met and married Richard Wayne Hettrick (Dick) on July 18, 1959. 

Their first called pastorate was to Bloomfield Presbyterian Church in Kentucky, followed by Allardt Presbyterian Church in Tennessee.

In 1966, the couple and their children, Beth Lynn and Jonathan Haler, moved to the coal mining community of Wilder Tennessee, to minister to and with families in the Appalachian mountains. Under the auspices of the United Presbyterian Church, they led a Sunday School, youth group, and morning worship. Together they worked to improve the employment and living conditions for the people of Fentress County. 

In 1972, the family moved to Kingston, Tennessee, where they served the congregation of Bethel Presbyterian Church for the next 30+ years. Here, Marge and Dick put down roots and expanded their family by adopting their daughter, Teresa Ann. 

As a partner in ministry, Marge was called to make the Gospel visible and tangible, leading activities such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Peacemaker Retreats, and more. Throughout her life, Marge was involved in Scouting, Home Demonstration Clubs, dog rescue and fostering, prison ministry, and addressing needs in the community wherever she saw them arise. Marge enjoyed feeding people, and for a time partnered in a catering company. She was known for always having a place at her table for anyone who found themselves alone, and many benefitted from her hospitality. 

Marge was also a life-long artist. She loved exploring a variety of hand crafts, such as quilting, embroidery, pottery, and most recently rug-hooking. Family, friends, and the church were blessed by her skills with banners, vestments, costumes, and myriad other delightful creations. 

After her husband’s retirement, Marge continued to be an active member of the Bethel congregation and the community, participating in Love Kitchen, Bethel Arts Ministry, Family Promise and Parkinson’s support group. 

In 2020, she moved to Asheville, North Carolina, to be closer to her family. She continued to seek ways to serve others in her new neighborhood. Shortly after her move, doctors discovered a recurrence of a previous cancer. After successfully living with the cancer for over five years, Marge chose to discontinue treatment and focus on her quality of life. With the support of hospice, family, and beloved caregivers, she was able to enjoy more than seven months of renewed friendships, favorite foods, and finding joy and beauty in the flowers and wildlife that surrounded her home. 

Marge passed away peacefully in her Asheville home on June 17, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Clara, her husband Richard, her sister Susan Louise Haler Gribble, and her daughter Teresa. She is survived by her daughter Beth Hettrick Berry (Clay), son Jonathan Haler Hettrick (Allyson), grandchildren Christopher Aaron Berry, Benjamin Hettrick (Berry) Rosenkoetter, and Rebecca Carroll Hettrick. 

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on July 18, 2026, at Bethel Presbyterian Church, 203 South Kentucky Street Kingston, Tennessee. The service will also be live-streamed on the Bethel Presbyterian Church Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064618816789 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to: 

Bethel Presbyterian Church in support of their Laundry Love Ministry. Checks may be mailed to the church at 203 South Kentucky Street, Kingston TN 37763. Indicate Laundry Love in the memo line.

Family Promise of Roane County: https://familypromiseroane.org/ Checks are preferred and may be mailed to Family Promise of Roane County, P.O. Box 605, Rockwood, TN 37854

Or the scholarship fund that Marge created in memory of her husband, Richard Hettrick. Checks noting “Hettrick Scholarship” in the memo line may be mailed to Warren Wilson College; PO Box 9000; CPO 6376; Asheville, NC 28815, or via https://www.warren-wilson.edu/giving/make-a-gift/ entering “Hettrick Scholarship” in the designation field.

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