Minnie Ivy Harvey, 87, of Waldoboro, passed away peacefully on Nov. 29 at Pen Bay Medical Center with her loving family at her side.
She was born on Swans Island on Feb. 18, 1925, the daughter of the late Everett and Marie Carter Staples. She grew up on the island and attended local schools.
She married her husband Sheldon Harvey on Munjoy Hill in Portland in 1942, and the couple made their home in Portland while Sheldon was in the process of being drafted for WWII. After Sheldon could not be drafted, the couple moved back to Swans Island where they lived for 10 years before finally moving and settling in Waldoboro in 1953.
She was a homemaker and caregiver to many. When she was younger, she would care for her brothers and then, when she had children of her own, she cared for them as well.
In her younger years she had beautiful gardens all around the house. She knitted trap heads for her husband’s lobster pots as well as helped paint the buoys for the traps as well. She was famous for making Christmas wreathes, a tradition she kept up with until just a few years ago.
She was a great cook and enjoyed having everyone over to her house for meals whether it was biscuits, clam fritters, pea soup, or a custard pie that no one could come close to matching no matter how hard they tried.
A few years ago the family tried to put together a family cookbook and went to her for some of her most famous recipes. She was not much help because nothing she made had a recipe; it all depended on what she had available and she was famous for using a little of this and a little of that.
She was a lifetime member of the West Waldoboro Community Church. She loved her family and was fond of all of their get-togethers throughout the years. She loved to travel and spent many Fourth of Julys camping in Jonesport and many Sundays at Seven Tree Pond in Union for family picnics.
She enjoyed spending time at the lobster boat races in Bristol and in Jonesport, and was never afraid to teach her grandchildren how to drive; as soon as they had a permit in hand, she had them behind the steering wheel.
She looked forward to her annual trip to Swans Island in the spring when Rhoda, Debbie Sandborn, Valerie Hale, Marie Storer, and Lance and Brady would all go and clean up the family lots at Rose Hill Cemetery.
She was predeceased by her loving husband, Sheldon Harvey; brothers, Herbert, Burt, Fern, and Leverett Carter; sister, Mina Hildings; daughter-in-law, Sheryl Harvey; great-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Crystal Harvey; and special friend, Arlene Staples.
Survivors include sons, Neil Harvey and wife Barbara of Waldoboro, Wayne Harvey of Waldoboro, and John Harvey of Swans Island; daughter, Rhoda Harvey and companion Randy Dudley of Waldoboro; grandchildren, Rebecca Collyer and companion Dana of Waldoboro, Shannon Harvey and wife Jennifer of Waldoboro, Jason Harvey and wife Kristen of Waldoboro, Joshua Harvey and wife Leanne of Waldoboro, Sheldon Harvey and wife Rachel of Waldoboro, Israel Harvey and wife Randi of Waldoboro, Karen Glidden and husband Troy of Waldoboro, Kristine Harvey and companion Miff Ellis of Waldoboro, Wayne Harvey II of Waldoboro, Rhonda Simmons of Waterville, Jessica Ellis and husband Ricky of Waldoboro, Heather Snyder and husband Corey of Waldoboro, Matthew Harvey of Waldoboro, Tamiko Dodge and husband Timmy of Waldoboro, Nicole of Vinalhaven, John Adam Harvey and companion Shelly Cook of Swans Island, Jeremy Harvey of Waldoboro, Cassandra Harvey of Warren, and Stephanie Dudley and fiancé Lee Bennett of Waldoboro; great-grandchildren, Michael, Benjamin, Hannah, Ashton, Sarah, Dillon, James, Jared, Krysta, Chloe, Sophia, Bryent, Owen, Paige, Robert, Autumn, Troy, Makayla, Jeffrey, Natasha, Karl, Hailey, Anthony, Lilly, Gary, Nicki, Isiah, Dominique, Whitney, Zachary, Trevor, Shawn, Abagale, Kyle, Lance, and Brady; great-great-granddaughter, Aubriannah; special companion, Tippy; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Time of visitation 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Fri., Dec. 7 at Hall Funeral Home, 949 Main St., Waldoboro. Celebration of life following at 1 p.m., also at the funeral home with Rev. Wayne Woodman officiating.
Should friends desire, contributions in Minnie’s memory may be made to the West Waldoboro Community Church, c/o John Blamey, 75 Ledgers Circle, Waldoboro, ME 04572.
You are invited to share your condolences, memories, photos, and stories with the family by visiting their Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
