William R. Harvey, 70, of Middletown, died Thursday, January 5, 2017, at Miriam Hospital in Providence, Rhode Island. His family was at his bedside when he passed.
He was the husband of Betty Lou Oakley Harvey.
Born on January 28, 1946 in Newport, Rhode Island, he was the son of the late William Ward and Lynette (Beattie) Harvey.
In addition to his beloved wife of forty-seven years, William is survived by his children – William W. Harvey II and his wife, Karen Harvey, of Portsmouth; Bethany H. Stewart of Saunderstown; and Ryan D. Harvey and his wife, Alexis Harvey, of Boston, Massachusetts. Bill had eight grandchildren – William, Shane, Maxwell, Brianna, Stephan and David Harvey, and Beau and Ruby Stewart. He is also survived by his sisters, Lynn H. Summers and her husband, Daniel Summers, of Iowa City, Iowa, and Anne H. Lawton and her husband, Edward Lawton, of Holliston, Massachusetts. He also leaves behind his Oakley brothers and sisters-in-law, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and his Aunt, Joan (Beattie) Klaserner.
Bill practiced law in Newport for over forty-five years. For many years he practiced alongside his father, W. Ward Harvey, at Sheffield & Harvey. Years later the firm transitioned into Harvey, Carr & Hadfield, and he practiced alongside his son, William W. Harvey II. He took great pride and pleasure in having been blessed with sharing his professional life with both his father and his eldest son.
After two years at Rogers High School, he transferred to, and graduated from, The Governor’s Academy in South Byfield, Massachusetts. Bill later graduated from Denison University, and Suffolk Law School. In between his university and law school years, Bill served in the Army National Guard.
Bill was passionate about being active in the community he loved. In the past he served for eight years on the Middletown Town Council. He was the president of the Potter League for Animals, and was instrumental in its relocation to its present site. He served on the Boards of Newport Hospital, The Newport County YMCA, The Preservation Society of Newport County, The Rhode Island Foundation, and Newport Federal Savings Bank. He was actively involved in capital campaigns for The Maher Center and Newport Hospital. He was presently on the Board of Savings Institute Bank & Trust, was serving as legal counsel to The Newport County Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the YMCA finance committee.
Above all, Bill was devoted to his family. He was incredibly proud of the adults his children have become, and his grandchildren were the absolute light of his life. He was a man of simple pleasures, and enjoyed nothing more than time with his family, particularly at Miskiania Camp, where he enjoyed long walks through the pine woods, conversations on the porch, and many a heated card game.
Bill lived his life with the kind of integrity, kindness, humility, respect for others, generosity of spirit and true authenticity that often seems lacking in this day and age. His passing is a great loss not only to his family but to our community.
Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, January 10th from 4-8pm, in Hambly Funeral Home, “Brick House”, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport, RI.
His funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 11th, at 10am, in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 324 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI. The burial will be there as well.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The Maher Center, The Potter League for Animals, or Big Sister of Boston.
