Harry Benjamin Huseman

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM in St. John's Catholic Church, Hollywood, MD with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Visitation: Viewing/Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. Harry B. “Capt. Harry” Huseman, Sr., 83, of California, MD and formerly of Abell, MD died May 29, 2008 at his residence. Born October 24, 1924 in Abell, MD, he was the son of the late Charles William and Mary Alice Huseman. He was the loving husband of Margaret Virginia Huseman, whom he married on July 10, 1949 in Holy Angels Church, and who preceded him in death on January 17, 1995. He is survived by his children Karen Hamilton and her husband Rodger of California, MD and Harry B. Huseman, Jr. and his wife Sharon of Sarasota, FL; three grandchildren Kira Yahraus and her husband Ryan Yahraus of Sarasota, FL, Joseph “JR” Lephew of Baltimore, MD and Jonathan Huseman of Sarasota, FL; two great grandchildren Hayden and McKenna Yahraus of Sarasota, FL; brothers William “Billy” Huseman and his wife Ann of Hollywood, MD, Charles Ross Huseman of Abell, MD; sister Elizabeth Downs and her husband James “Buddy” of Abell, MD. Harry is also survived by many friends too numerous to list. A special “Thanks” to Candy Carroll and Agnes Baker and especially the angels at Hospice – Cathy, Sally, Cindy and everyone there. They are “Truly the angels on this earth”. He was a lifelong waterman and St. Mary’s County resident, where he attended Holy Angels School and then served in the U.S. Army from 1943 – 1946 during WWII, the Philippine Invasion and sailed on the “Ghost Fleet”. Harry grew up on the water and with his father learned to work the water. He returned after the war and made his living on the water. He built his work boat the “Wild Rose” and worked the waters on the Potomac River, Patuxent River as well as the Chesapeake Bay. Capt Harry continued to work the river and the bay with his boat “Karen Bee”. For 70 years Capt Harry was a true “Waterman” working out in the heat, rain, snow and ice. Capt Harry was a mentor to many watermen – only giving advice when asked. When his daughter was young she remembered every night the watermen would call to see what Capt Harry was going to do the next day. “No One” would leave the creek until Capt Harry left. Capt Harry has been featured in many MD and Washington, DC newspapers and the Calvert Marine Museum. He was the judge at the St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival from (the very first one) 1966 – 2007. He was honored as 2007 Waterman of the Year given by the Optimist Club of the Seventh District. Capt Harry and his son “HB” shared their knowledge with school children and with the University of Maryland students that came to the house and down to his boat. Being a “Waterman” is almost a lost profession. Capt Harry had two great loves – his family and the water. Capt Harry was a member of the Waterman’s Tongers Committee and Waterman’s Association. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, with Prayers being said at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 10:00 AM in St. John’s Catholic Church, Hollywood, MD with Fr. Raymond Schmidt officiating. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jackie Bowen, Robert T. Brown, Tucker Brown, Butch Cornelius, Tommy Crowder and Al Huseman. Honorary Pallbearers will be Joey Stone and Joey Watts. Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary’s, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.