Joseph K. Harvey
Joe Harvey passed peacefully from this life on May 8, 2020 at his home in Coeur d’Alene, ID. We are thankful he lived a fulfilling life for 80 years and passed peacefully. He was born October 21, 1939 in Spokane, WA to Pat and Ella Harvey and grew up in Kellogg. He spent many hours at the local YMCA where he won trophies for boxing, swimming and made the Junior Olympics team for diving.
Upon graduation he joined the army and while in the military his family relocated to Hobbs where Joe joined them when he left the Army. He rose quickly through the ranks of city government to City Manager. At the time, he was the youngest City Manager in the history of New Mexico.
Upon retirement from the city, he established a consulting firm. Cambridge, Inc. He was elected to the NM State Senate and served as a senator from 1985 to 1992 where he served on committees and commissions representing the state of New Mexico. He was a member of the Conservation Committee, Finance Committee, Judiciary Committee, Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee and the Rules Committee, as well as a member and advisor on countless interim committees. He also served on the New Mexico Economic Development Council, the Southwest Energy Council, the State Crime Commission and was appointed by the Governor to the state Parole Board. He also obtained his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the age of 52.
He loved Hobbs Eagle basketball, Lady Eagle softball, the Dallas Cowboys, Notre Dame football, Gonzaga basketball and jitterbugging! He loved the “Hobbs America” community and one of the last things he said was that he hoped to “just be remembered as a humble public servant.”
Joe and Gayle dated the last month of his senior year in 1958. Fifty years later, he found his high school love on classmates.com. They married and spend the last 12 years back in beautiful Idaho.
Joe Harvey is survived by his wife Gayle (Miller) Harvey of Coeur d’Alene, ID; his two daughters, Lana Cichon of Forreston, IL (Ray) and Neisa Lynch (Mike) of Denver, CO; three grandchildren, David Wood of Oconomowoc, WI, Elizabeth Kale of East Dubuque, IL and Taylor Lusby of Denver, CO , and seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Patricia Trotter of Denton, TX and Mable Lane of Terre Haute, IN; numerous nieces and nephews; two step children, Rob Baila and Kahney Long; and of course all the good people of Hobbs and the Silver Valley in Idaho who loved him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pat and Ella (Sims) Harvey and his first wife of 47-years Sue (Howell) Harvey.
The Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday July 16th at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 919 E. Indiana Coeur d’Alene, ID 83854
Inurnment will be at St. Pius X Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, please perform an act of kindness for someone in need in the community...and think of Joe. To see Joe’s online Memorial and to leave a message for the family please visit www.englishfuneralchapel.com