Obituary of Rebecca A. "Becky" Harblin

WEST POTSDAM - Rebecca A. Harblin (Becky) passed away April 9, 2025. Becky (72) was surrounded by loving friends and her husband Michael Whiting when she passed. Born 10/12/1952 in Peru, NY to her parents Harold Stephen Harblin and Jane Liberty Harblin. Becky had one brother Gary (predeceased in 2020) and two nieces, Jennifer Bowlby in Schuyler Falls, NY and Sarah Donor in Keeseville, NY. Her cousinSheila Alverez lives in Amsterdam, NY. Becky was predeceased by her husband Donald H. Butters where they had lived on their farm in West Potsdam for 30 years. Becky operated Harblin's Herb Farm there for many years. Her work on the farm and expertise on edible plants was the focus of two TV interviews on Mountain Lake PBS titled "The Weed Eater" by Derek Muirden. A trained painter, Becky majored in art and did her coursework at San Diego State University. After working at The New Yorker magazine and several newspapers Becky focused much of her recent paintings on creating pastels. In the last twenty years Becky had begun to incorporate her studies in Amazonian Healing (Shamanism) in all her work, painting, poetry, sculpture and photography. The bulk of her painting was done plein air. She enjoyed the direct contact with her subjects and the often explicit interpretation of light in the landscape. Her paintings have won juried awards in shows around the world. In 2021 Becky was juried in to the Pastel Society of America as an associate member and exhibited her work at the National Arts Club in New York City. Becky was unique in many ways. She would only sign her paintings on the back. This came from her belief that the elements of implicit and explicit expression should speak louder than her name. Beyond a painter, healer and herbalist she was a published poet (Eating the Bread of This World, 2012) and sought-after sound bath practitioner. She enjoyed all racquet sports and most recently was an avid pickleball player. She loved and enjoyed her pet sheep, three dogs and two cats. Becky would religiously walk her pets including the sheep on a daily basis while singing about her love of nature and being thankful to the Great Spirit for all she has given us. Becky will be missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of love, kindness and a sense of humor will live on in the hearts of those who knew her from around the world. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.buckfuneralhome.com . The Buck Funeral Home in Norwood is serving the family of Rebecca A. (Becky) Hablin.