Melvin W. Harvey
<p>The family of Melvin W. Harvey sadly announces the death of its loved one on January 22, 2023 in Fairbanks, Alaska at the age of 79 following an almost two-year battle with cancer. Mel was born at the family farm near Monticello, Utah to Louise and Julius Harvey on July 11, 1943. Mel grew up on the family farm and graduated from Monticello High School in 1961. He graduated from a two- year program in electronics at Central Utah Vocational School in Provo, Utah, served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Greely for two years and graduated from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. Among his many endeavors between his service in the army and his attendance at Ft. Lewis, he did salvage diving off the coast of Oregon, worked in an underground potash mine, manufactured plywood and drove a postal mail route. He taught junior high school in Metlakatla, Alaska 1973–1975 and then finished his teaching career teaching high school in Nenana from 1975–1996. Summer activates included aluminum boat building, taking continuing education classes and fishing on the Kenai. While Mel was still attending college at Ft. Lewis, he met, on a blind date, his future wife, Karen. They were married on August 11, 1970. After his stint in the Army, Mel had always wanted to return to Alaska; so, with the ink hardly dry on his teaching certificate, Mel, Karen and two boys headed up the long Alaska Highway to new adventures and their forever home. Their third son was born in Fairbanks. Post retirement activities included acquisition and rental of houses, house maintenance, knife making, fishing, carpentry, beer brewing and wine making. Mel is preceded in death by his father and mother, Julius and Louise Harvey, brothers Julius (Jay) Harvey and James Harvey, sisters Mary Brown, Sharon Riley, Verdell Pace and Jacque Fuller. He is survived by his wife Karen Harvey of Nenana, Alaska son Justin Harvey and his wife Rhonda of Fairbanks, Alaska, son Camron Harvey and his wife Marisela of El Paso, Texas, son Eric Harvey and his wife Liisa of Kodiak, Alaska, sister Sandra Bacon and husband Bill of Mountain Home, Idaho, sister Lynne Robinson and husband Butch of St. George, Utah and sister Bessie Howe of Monticello, Utah, Grandchildren Louisa, Julieth and Violet Harvey of Fairbanks, Alaska, Evelin Riley and her husband Jonathan of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Camron Ray, Brian, Catherine, Nicholas and Anna Harvey of El Paso, Texas, Gianni, Blaine and Luciana of Kodiak, Alaska and bonus granddaughter Ranger Filardi of Nenana, Alaska. Great grandchildren are Adalind, Cayleb, Connor and Matthew Harvey of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Emilio Harvey of El Paso, Texas. Funeral Home services are provided by Blanchard Family Funeral Home in Fairbanks. The family wishes to thank friends, neighbors and family for their loving support. They also thank all the medical providers in Mel’s care for their professional and kind services involved in Mel’s care. A Celebration of Life will be held in Nenana at the James Coghill Community Center on February 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. </p>Obituary
The family of Melvin W. Harvey sadly announces the death of its loved one on January 22, 2023 in Fairbanks, Alaska at the age of 79 following an almost two-year battle with cancer. Mel was born at the family farm near Monticello, Utah to Louise and Julius Harvey on July 11, 1943. Mel grew up on the family farm and graduated from Monticello High School in 1961. He graduated from a two- year program in electronics at Central Utah Vocational School in Provo, Utah, served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Greely for two years and graduated from Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1973. Among his many endeavors between his service in the army and his attendance at Ft. Lewis, he did salvage diving off the coast of Oregon, worked in an underground potash mine, manufactured plywood and drove a postal mail route. He taught junior high school in Metlakatla, Alaska 1973–1975 and then finished his teaching career teaching high school in Nenana from 1975–1996. Summer activates included aluminum boat building, taking continuing education classes and fishing on the Kenai. While Mel was still attending college at Ft. Lewis, he met, on a blind date, his future wife, Karen. They were married on August 11, 1970. After his stint in the Army, Mel had always wanted to return to Alaska; so, with the ink hardly dry on his teaching certificate, Mel, Karen and two boys headed up the long Alaska Highway to new adventures and their forever home. Their third son was born in Fairbanks. Post retirement activities included acquisition and rental of houses, house maintenance, knife making, fishing, carpentry, beer brewing and wine making. Mel is preceded in death by his father and mother, Julius and Louise Harvey, brothers Julius (Jay) Harvey and James Harvey, sisters Mary Brown, Sharon Riley, Verdell Pace and Jacque Fuller. He is survived by his wife Karen Harvey of Nenana, Alaska son Justin Harvey and his wife Rhonda of Fairbanks, Alaska, son Camron Harvey and his wife Marisela of El Paso, Texas, son Eric Harvey and his wife Liisa of Kodiak, Alaska, sister Sandra Bacon and husband Bill of Mountain Home, Idaho, sister Lynne Robinson and husband Butch of St. George, Utah and sister Bessie Howe of Monticello, Utah, Grandchildren Louisa, Julieth and Violet Harvey of Fairbanks, Alaska, Evelin Riley and her husband Jonathan of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Camron Ray, Brian, Catherine, Nicholas and Anna Harvey of El Paso, Texas, Gianni, Blaine and Luciana of Kodiak, Alaska and bonus granddaughter Ranger Filardi of Nenana, Alaska. Great grandchildren are Adalind, Cayleb, Connor and Matthew Harvey of Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, Emilio Harvey of El Paso, Texas. Funeral Home services are provided by Blanchard Family Funeral Home in Fairbanks. The family wishes to thank friends, neighbors and family for their loving support. They also thank all the medical providers in Mel’s care for their professional and kind services involved in Mel’s care. A Celebration of Life will be held in Nenana at the James Coghill Community Center on February 2, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.