Ira Omar Harvey, Jr.'s Obituary
IRA OMAR HARVEY, Jr. was born to Ira Oma Harvey, Sr. and Martha Rebecca Bibby Harvey in Goldthwaite, Texas, October 4, 1920, and died June 6, 2019. Omar told everyone he met that he was the most fortunate person they would ever know and lived as if he was. He traveled extensively yet always defined himself as a Goldthwaite country boy. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira Oma and Martha Rebecca Harvey, Sr., a sister, Lilla Harvey Boogher and brothers Weyman Julius Harvey and Earl Eugene Harvey who died defending his country in World War II in Schneiden, Germany. Omar was a graduate of Goldthwaite High School, attended Baylor University and The University of Texas. He met the love of his life, Dorothy Page, in 1939 and married July 27, 1940. Omar loved his Lord and his family. He often said, “The Bible teaches to train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” But it doesn’t say what he will do in the meantime. Omar said, “I’m afraid I lived too much of my life in the meantime.” He is survived by his wife of 79 years; two daughters, Martha Payne Shaw, husband George Fletcher and Carol Harvey Ellis and husband, Michael Ellis. He was blessed with grandchildren, Gregory Thomas Payne, wife, Robyn, Alysha Payne Godfrey, husband, Ben, David Lee Harvey Payne, wife, Heather, Robert Omar Alexander, wife Sarah, Meredith Alexander Torcasi, husband, Sean and Brooke Alexander Chambers, her husband, Matthew, Jessica, and Lauren Fletcher. Great-Grandchildren adding joy to his life are Brandon Thomas Payne, Reid and Ryder Pekowski, Abigale, Emily, Rebecca, Grace, Paige, and Lily Godfrey, Caroline Chambers, Maren, and Coen Mahoney, Nora and Miles Torcasi, David Gilbert and Calum Payne and Alice Fletcher Dove. Omar served with the Pacific Overseas Air Technical Command during WWII, partnered in the Texan Café in Austin, owned Harvey’s Variety Store in Goldthwaite, achieved executive positions with IBM working with Chairman of the Board of Directors & CEO, Thomas. J. Watson, Jr. and served as Executive Vice President, First National Bank in Dallas. He chaired Bill Clements’ campaign for Governor of Texas, was Director of Community Affairs, the Committee on Aging and Housing, Chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice, Director of Special Events for the Boy Scouts of America, National Office, consultant to Trammell Crow to construct and lease the INFORMANT, Chairman and CEO of Stockton Saving Association, Dallas, Texas as well as Commodore Saving and helped form Bluebonnet Savings. He spent twenty years as an independent business consultant. Community involvement included Chairman of Board of Trustees, Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Vice Chairman of Baylor University, participated in the Executive in Residence at the Hankamer School of Business in Waco, President of Circle Ten Council, Boy Scouts of America, member of the Dallas Citizen’s Council, The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, Chairman of the Byron Nelson Golf Tournaments, Life Deacon and Chairman of the Personnel Committee, Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, President of The Rotary Club of Dallas, Membership Chairman, Dallas Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Offenders’ Preparation and Education Network (OPEN, Inc.). He was a 32 Degree Mason, a 60-year and Life Member of Lonnie Daylight Masonic Lodge in San Antonio and of the Scottish Rite Temple in Dallas, Honorary Alumnus of Baylor University in Waco and Life Member of the Baylor Alumni Association, recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Good Shepherd Awards and Baylor University Health Care System Wings of Eagles. Omar’s Memorial Celebration of Life Service will be held Sunday, June 9, 2019 with visitation at 2 pm and Memorial Service at 3 pm. The service will be held at Restland Funeral Home 13005 Greenville Avenue Dallas Texas. The Reverend Jack Martin will officiate.
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