Harriet Ruth Hubbard Karatassos of Starkville, Miss. passed away at Sanctuary Hospice House on January 16, 2015. She was 61. She was preceded in death by her parents Fisher and Harris Hubbard and is survived by her husband Straton Karatassos; daughter Mary Straton Karatassos Smith and her husband Kell; daughter Harris Karatassos Carruba and her husband Louis; granddaughter Eleanor Ruth Smith and grandson Louis Joseph Carruba IV; and sister Christine Hubbard Fleming and her husband Bill.

A native of Batesville, Miss., Harriet graduated from the University of Mississippi and became a converted Bulldog fan upon meeting her future husband at Mississippi State University while completing her Master’s Degree in Education. She was an elementary teacher at Starkville Academy for 36 years and was a dedicated member of First Baptist Church in Starkville.

Harriet - or "Mrs. K," as she was affectionately known - was a devoted wife and mother and constant source of joy and laughter for her family and friends, responsible for such nuggets of wisdom as, “there's no tired like 'teacher tired',” and, “eat dessert first – you never know when you’re going to die!” Her greatest accomplishments were marrying her husband, giving birth to her children, and seeing the Beatles in concert (though she missed them on the Ed Sullivan Show because her mother made her attend church).

Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church in Starkville, Miss. on Monday, January 19, 2015 from 9:00-11:00 a.m., with a memorial service immediately following.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, Miss., 5159 W. Main St., Tupelo, MS 38801.