PHILLIPS COUNTY

Colorado

 

ESTER F (MILLER) HARVEY

 

 

Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, October 13, 2005

 

Esther Florence (Miller) Harvey was born August 21, 1917 in Chase County, Nebraska. She died Friday, September 9, 2005 at the Arbor Creek Rehab Unit in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Esther was the sixth child of Locy N. and Anna C. (Wallin) Miller. She grew up on a farm in Chase County and learned at an early age that helping others was important. Her task during the summer was to watch out for her Grandpa Wallin so he didn't wander away from the farmstead. At her mother's side, she learned early how to take care of a home.

 

Her parents were diligent in seeing that their children were reared in a Christian home. Sunday church was a special family time. At a young age Esther accepted Christ as her personal savior and had peace the rest of her life that she would spend eternity in Heaven. At one of the church services a young farmer by the name of O.C. "Jim" Harvey saw Esther and decided that someday he was going to marry "that pretty little redheaded gal."

 

 His dream came true on June 13, 1935, when he and Esther were married in Broken Bow, Nebraska by Esther's uncle, Rev. Ralph Miller. Esther loved to tell that her wedding happened on that day because it had rained and Jim couldn't work in the field. Their first home was on a farm in Chase County about two miles from her parents. While living there, their first daughter, Olive, was born. Five years later their second daughter, Arlene, arrived. In 1944 they purchased a farm in Phillips County and lived there until 1954 when they sold the farm and moved to Holyoke. They purchased the Sweet Shop which they operated for 26 years.  After selling their business they were able to go see friends and relatives across the country. When Jim's health failed, Esther was his constant companion until he died. After his death she took care of friend's children while they worked. To many people she became known as Granny. For the past two years Esther had been staying with her daughter, Arlene in New Mexico.

 

Esther & Jim loved people and opened their hearts to many, but one special person was Donna (Spohn) Lutze, a friend of Arlene's. Through the years Donna became a third "daughter" to them and her children became their grandchildren.

 

Preceding Esther in death was her husband, her daughter Olive, granddaughter Christina Marie (Lutze) Bishop, grandson Thomas Edward Lutze, her parents, brothers Thornton and Fred and sister Clara.   She is survived by her daughters Arlene and husband Willie of Grants, New Mexico, and Donna and husband Leroy of Holyoke; grandsons Don Lutze of Greeley and Mark Lutze, wife Mendi and great granddaughters Josily and Janessa, all of Holyoke; her brother Wilfred Miller and wife Helen of Imperial, Nebraska; sister Inez Ball of Pleasant Hill, Illinois; sisters-in-law Ardith Wallin of Imperial, Nebraska and Grace Blanke of Holyoke; special family Mark, Laurie, Krystal, April and Kurtis Brown, all of Holyoke, and Gene and Nancy Fisher of Platteville; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

 

Memorial services were held at the Grace Baptist Church in Milan, New Mexico, Monday, September 19, with Pastor Dale Thatcher officiating. Memorial services will be held in Colorado at the First Baptist Church in Holyoke on Thursday, October 20, at 3 p.m. with Pastor Gary Jones officiating. Interment will be at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Phillips County.

 

 

 

 

 

O.C. “JIM” HARVEY

 

 

 

Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, September 8, 1983

 

Services were held September 2, 1983 at the First Baptist Church of Holyoke, with JoeStewart officiating. Internment was at Pleasant Valley Cemetery with Thompson Funeral Home of Holyoke in charge of arrangements.

 

Oliver Cromwell “Jim” Harvey was born September 25, 1906 at Haddam, Washington County, Kansas to William Oliver and Sarah Orena Oliver Harvey and departed this life at the age of 76 years and 11 months, after a brief illness, on August 30, 1983 at Sterling.

 

“Jim” as he was known by most people lived in Washington County, Kansas, with his family until 1919 when they moved to Dundy County, Nebraska. In his growing up years he worked for several area ranchers and farmers. In 1923 he and his family moved to Chase County where he farmed. As a young man Jim accepted Christ as his savior and was a member of the United Brethren Church of Chase, Nebraska.

 

On June 13, 1935 he was united in marriage to Esther F. Miller and to this union was born two daughters. Jim with his family lived in Chase County northwest of Imperial until 1945 when they moved to a farm southeast of Holyoke in Phillips County, where he was engaged in farming. While living on the farm Jim was active in the community and served several years on the school board of District One.

 

In February of 1954 Jim sold his farm and moved his family to Holyoke where he purchased the Sweet Shop. He and his family operated this business until he retired and sold it in July of 1980.

 

After moving to Holyoke Jim helped with the County Fair for many many years. He first served as chairman of the parade then became fair manager. He always enjoyed his years helping with the fair and was honored this past fair when the fair board chose him as the parade Grand Marshall.  Jim was always interested in young people and always had time to listen and be a friend when they needed one. Jim enjoyed visiting with people and always said he’d “never met a stranger.”

 

Preceding him in death were his parents, his brothers Fred and Henry and “grandson” Thomas Lutze. Leaving to mourn his passing are his wife Esther and daughters Olive and Arlene and “daughter” Mrs. Leroy (Donna) Lutze and “grandchildren” Donald, Christina and Mark Lutze all of Holyoke. Brother Ralph of Champion, Nebraska, sisters Viola Cornell of Salinas, California, Grace Blanke of Holyoke, Ardith Wallin of Lamar, Nebraska, and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends.

 

 

 

 

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Last updated December 2018