Harold Harvey's Obituary
Harold Austin Harvey, Sr. was born on August 8, 1928 in Forest, Mississippi to Lester and Julial Harvey. He went to be with his Savior on March 14, 2020 at the age of 91. On March 25, 1959, he married Joan Crump.
He was preceded in death by his parents and six brothers: JB, Herman, Houston, Oscar, Roy and Willis Harvey.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan; six children: Shauna Harvey; Andrea Hall and husband, Larry; Cheri Genske and husband Charles; Julie Ashley and husband, Chuck; Hal Harvey; and James Harvey and wife Sue; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren
Being the youngest of seven boys nurtured a resilience that ensured Harold faced every challenge with determination. Because he knew how to type, he was able to serve our country in the Korean War as a company clerk in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, just like Radar in M.A.S.H.
After serving in the military, he worked in Louisiana as a part of a seismograph crew that survived hurricane Audrey in 1957. It was on this team where he met a man that spoke of getting a degree in engineering. He used his amazing optimism to listen to someone’s possibilities and turned them into his own adventure. He graduated from LSU with an engineering degree, and the love for his Tigers never waned. It was after he graduated that he met and married the love of his life, Joan. He accepted a position as a Safety Engineer with Texas Instruments. Surviving an explosion led to an early retirement, but that was just the beginning of a new adventure.
He and his wife Joan were always a dynamic duo. Together they decided to take the gifts God has given and dedicate them to building up their personal and church families. The gift of turning strangers into friends and friends into family was exercised daily. Harold could make you feel welcome and cared for with his sincere smile. He was dedicated to using the gifts of giving and service to help those in need. He found delight in exercising his faith in Jesus by sharing love, joy and kindness to all that he met. The doors to his home were always open to others as he worked to make them feel welcome and wanted. He was an active member at Canyon Creek Baptist church where he humbly served as a deacon for many years. He was selflessly dedicated to helping others, to meeting their needs and achieving their goals.
His positive enthusiasm was contagious. He used this energy to successfully run his business and lead his family. His example served as an encouragement to seek a journey that will make the most of every moment and honor God. When others saw obstacles, he found opportunities. He did not look to the world to decide what he could accomplish. His strong will and confidence in God’s guidance allowed him to climb many mountains and sing God’s praises with every victory.
We are so very thankful for his generosity of heart and his consistent example. His willingness to invest in others has planted seeds in so many lives. The fruit of his life well lived will be seen in our lives for many years to come.
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Share a story where Harold's kindness touched your heart.
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