Leonard Philip Harvey's Obituary
Born in rural Cherokee County, Texas near Alto on March 22, 1928, to William Milton Harvey and Katie Lois Tidwell Harvey, Leonard was the third son followed by two sisters, and began his education in a four-room schoolhouse in Central High community near Alto. He laid aside the working tools of life at Jacksonville, TX on January 2, 2018, at the age of 89 years. His father was a farmer and died at the young age of thirty-seven, leaving his widow with five young children, two of which, the older boy and younger girl died within four years of their father’s death. In order to keep her remaining family together during the depression years, Leonard’s mother sought help from Buckner Orphans Home (now Buckner Baptist Benevolences) where she took employment, afterward moving to Dallas where Leonard attended N. R. Crozier Technical High School. He soon enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the Army Signal Corps Engineering Development Detachment. A month after his discharge, barely twenty years of age he became associated with Mr. Talmadge Raymey who had begun an industrial service and supply business for the construction trades. He later became an equal partner and eventually became sole owner of T. Raymey Company, Inc. After forty-seven years as employee and owner, he voluntarily liquidated and closed the business in 1995 to enjoy a retirement that included many pleasant times on his farm near Alto.While at Buckner Home, Leonard and his brother John William were simultaneously baptized by Dr. Hal F. Buckner. He later was a member of Gaston Avenue Baptist Church where he met Lena Ruth Wiley, and they were married in the church on July 23, 1948. They later joined and were actively involved in Royal Haven Baptist Church where Leonard was ordained a deacon in the church. He had a strong conviction and practiced his belief that nothing was his, rather it belonged to God and he was simply a steward.Leonard was an active member of the Masonic fraternity for 64 years and devoted much of his time and effort in the interest of the fraternity. He firmly believed being a Mason had the potential to make a good man a better man by simply applying its tenets and precepts to the way he lived his life. He was Worshipful Master of Keystone Lodge No. 1143 in 1961-1962, served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1963 and as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas in 1989. He again served as Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1990-1991. After serving as Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, he continued his active service through his membership and leadership in various Masonic organizations. In the York Rite of Freemasonry, he was the presiding officer of the Love Field Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and as Thrice Illustrious Master of Love Field Council of Royal and Select Masters and on various committees of the Grand Chapter and Grand Council. He was District Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter and District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1996, as Grand Orator of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter in 1998 and as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Texas in 2010. He was a Charter Member and Past Governor of Lyle L. Cross York Rite College No. 147 and received the Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College of North America As a member of the Red Cross of Constantine, he served as Sovereign of DeMolay Conclave of Waco. A thirty-third degree Scottish Rite Mason he served as Venerable Master of Dallas Lodge of Perfection, a Trustee of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and as vice-chairman of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Legacy Scholarship Program. Leonard had a limited formal education. From that experience grew a desire to do all he could to assist young people to achieve higher education. Through the Legacy Scholarship Program, he and Lena Ruth established The Lena Ruth and Leonard Harvey Endowed Scholarship. Each year a scholarship is awarded to a deserving former patient of the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Not only were they able to provide the financial support through the annual scholarship, they also kept in close contact with the student and their family, building a bond that surpassed just the financial.His keen interest in the preservation of history motivated his activities in Texas Lodge of Research which he led as Worshipful Master in 1987, and he was honored by that lodge by being named a Fellow in Masonic Research. Other fraternal memberships included the Commandery of Knights Templar, Order of the Eastern Star, National Sojourners, Heroes of ’76, Grotto and Shrine.Leonard was a prolific speaker and writer. Because of his aforementioned interest in the preservation of history, in 1997 he compiled a comprehensive seventy-five-year history of Keystone Lodge #1143.Lena Ruth and Leonard had no biological children of their own. Instead, they devoted their lives to helping others, including several nieces and nephews. Survivors include Leonard’s sister Elisa McDonald of Alto, nieces and nephews – Susan Dyess & husband Mark, George Scott & wife Terri, Nelda Van Schoick & husband Bob, Patti Randolph & husband Kim, Kim Scott & wife Mindy, Janet Tippit and Ronda Ivy & Charlie Simpson, a goodly number of grand nieces and nephews, and a sprinkling of grand-grand-nieces and nephews. Life was long. Life was good. Death is but life eternal for those who die in the Lord.Interment services for family, friends, and members of the Masonic fraternity will be held at Restland Memorial Park on January 12, 2018, at 1:00 P.M. with Masonic graveside services conducted by his Brother Masons under the direction of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2018, at Royal Haven Baptist Church for fellowship and remembrance to celebrate the life and home going of a “country boy” who enjoyed life and the living of it. This service will be at 11:00 A.M.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Legacy Scholarship Fund, Inc, 2222 Welborn St., Dallas, TX 75219, or to the charity of your choice.
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