James Harvey

James Stanley Harvey

James Stanley Harvey passed away peacefully on February 26, 2014 at his home in West Kaysville.  He was born on April 6, 1932 to Alpheus and Ivy Bishop Harvey.  The first of three children, Stan was raised in Kaysville where he was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He was a graduate of Davis High School where he lettered in several sports and was proud to be on their 1949 Utah State Championship football team.  He then joined the Air Force ROTC until upon his mother’s insistence he dropped out. However, as fate would have it two days later he found himself drafted into the Army for the Korean conflict.  After 2 attempts at basic training he found himself amongst friends he would have the rest of his life.  Upon leaving the Army and with help from the GI Bill he was able to attend higher education in Trondheim Norway, Uppsala Sweden, and Mexico City University.  He returned to the States and finally graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Geology.  Stan took up teaching, like both of his parents, as a way to support his passion for farming.  He shared his wisdom with many children first in Juneau Alaska and later in Weber County.  He found true enjoyment in the many he had the opportunity to teach.

Although Stan’s schooling taught him a great deal, he received much of his education from working with animals, the land, or just from observing folks from around the world.  He loved to travel and see the things that many just saw in books or magazines.  Whether he found an interesting rock formation or a historical landmark, he greatly appreciated the world that surrounded him.

In the mid 60’s Stan was set up by his best friend and Cousin Harvey Brough for a date with particularly special lady Beverly Varabeau.  In his words, Harvey had ruined him by the introduction.  No longer was he a single man experiencing the world, he had now found his match.  On November 18, 1967 he married her and she proved to be the love of his life.  In their time together they continued to travel the world and had three wonderful children who then blessed them with three similarly wonderful grandchildren.  Stan very much enjoyed being a father and a grandfather.  These were roles that defined him in many ways.

Eventually Stan returned to his roots working land and animals at his farm in Utah and his ranch in Robertson Wyoming.  He had a wonderful way with animals and greatly loved working with them.  He enjoyed nature, especially his trees.  From seeds or starts, he raised gardens and forests.  He also had a love for the people of the world.  He could strike up a conversation with anyone and was truly interested in what they had to say.  His very best friends were his family and his little dog Fifi.  A wonderful day began with a visit to his sister Hazel.  And it only got better when his brother Malcolm joined the party.

He is survived by his lovely wife Beverly, his children Cricket (Matt) Longaker, Megan Clyne of Wilsonville, OR, and Stosh Harvey along with his brother Malcolm (Janet) Harvey of Robertson, WY and Hazel (Walt) Parrish, numerous cousins on the Harvey and Bishop sides, and finally his grandchildren Tophe, Violet, and most recently Lily.  They all loved him and he loved them many times more.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved poodle Fifi.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 11:00 am at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 N. Main St., Kaysville, Utah.  Friends and family are invited to gather and pay their respects or share memories at the same location on March 3, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm and on March 4, 2014 from 9:45 to 10:45 am.  Interment will follow services at the Kaysville City Cemetery.