John Chesleigh Harvey

John Chesleigh Harvey, 90, of Gainesville, FL and formerly of Borger, TX, passed from time to Eternity early Tuesday morning, August 13, 2013, at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville, FL. John had been a resident of The Village since July of 2011. A Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. on August 30, 2013, in the Chapel at The Village, 8100 NW 27th Blvd in Gainesville. A second Memorial Service will be held at 9:00 a.m. on September 21, 2013, at Harmel's Resort on the Taylor River near Almont, CO. John's ashes will join his wife's, Lois, along the Taylor River. This was a favorite vacation and fishing area for the Harvey family. John was born in Garden City, KS, on November 16, 1922, to John Lyman and Ethel Ellis Harvey. His mother died two years later after the birth of John's sister, Ardis Ruth. Two years later, John's father married Edna Vermilya, and they had a son, Edwin. John's family moved from the farm near Sublette, KS to Liberal, KS where John graduated from Liberal High School in 1939. He attended Friends University in Wichita, KS before enlisting in the Army Air Corps where he eventually became an Aviation Cadet and was awarded his pilot wings. He trained to fly the B-29 Superfortress and on the eve of his deployment to the Pacific Theater, WWII ended. During his time in the service he was based near Sikeston, MO and had the good fortune to meet Lois Marie Hahs. John and Lois were married April 15, 1945, and celebrated almost 58 years of marriage before the Lord called Lois home in 2003. After the war, John got a job with Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co. and moved to Hugoton, KS where he and Lois raised their four sons. He worked his way up through the ranks from a well clerk to a plant superintendent. In addition to Hugoton, he worked in natural gas plants near Dumas, TX, Beaver, OK, and Borger, TX, where he retired from Panhandle Eastern in 1985. He moved to Gainesville, FL in 2011. After retirement, John and Lois enjoyed many travels both in the United States and abroad. Many fond memories came from these trips. John and Lois were avid square and round dancers. They loved to spend the winters dancing in south Texas and their summers on the Taylor River near Gunnison, CO, enjoying their other passion, fishing. The Harveys were members of the United Methodist Church in Borger where John enjoyed singing in the choir. John also enjoyed photography, from taking and developing his own photos in the early years, to taking and sharing digital images with family and friends in his retirement. Throughout his life, maintaining connections with his family and friends was very important to John. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lois, his parents, and one grandchild, Timothy. He is survived by his four sons, John W. (Liz) of Gainesville, FL; James (Mary Jo) of Sumter, SC; Richard (Carolyn) of New Raymer, CO; and Roger (Karen) of Ft. Collins, CO; one sister, Ardis Ripple, of Paola, KS, one brother, Edwin Harvey, of Cochran, GA; grandchildren Ashley, Jason, Thad, Jessica, Brian and Brady; and 6 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the American Heart Association.

John Chesleigh Harvey

August 17, 2013