Claude Smith Harvey Jr.

Claude Smith (C.S.) Harvey Jr. was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on Jan. 12, 1931, and passed away at Methodist Medical Center on Thursday, Jan. 10.

He and his family moved to Oliver Springs when he was three years old, and they have lived there until the present time.

He was educated in the Roane County Schools through his graduation from Oliver Springs High School in 1948. It was there that he met and later married the love of his life, Jennie Maxine Brown Harvey. The two were married on Sept. 30, 1949. He opened Harvey’s Furniture and Appliance Company, which he operated for 64 years until his death.

Mr. Harvey dedicated much of his life to showing his faith in Christ by helping others and working in his church. He was a member of the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church since 1952 and served as choir director and Sunday school teacher for over 50 years. He was also named as a lifetime deacon. He served as the church’s first youth director for over 20 years and helped in driving the senior citizens bus for many years. He was a man who genuinely lived his Christianity every day.

Perhaps best known for his community service, in 2007 Mr. Harvey was named as a Roane County Treasure by the county commission for his many contributions to the county and its citizens.

He served on various bank and hospital boards and was a member of the Roane County Board of Education for 10 years as well as the Roane Industrial Board and was chairman of the Oliver Springs Housing Authority for many years. Also, he was voted Business Man of the Year by the Roane County Chamber of Commerce. Among his greatest joys was serving as the chairman of the Oliver Springs Historical Society, as he was blessed with a great love of history and its preservation.

An ardent supporter of education, Mr. Harvey was very proud to serve on the foundation board for Roane State Community College and spent much time promoting and providing scholarships for students who chose to further their education there. He and his wife were faithful supporters of Oliver Springs schools and have given gifts and scholarships for many young people in the area. He was recently named to the Oliver Springs High Hall of Fame. He truly loved his town and its people.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jennie Maxine Brown Harvey; his parents, Claude S. and Georgia Capps Harvey; a grandson, Jonathan Patterson; a great-granddaughter, Brenna Whedbee; two brothers, Bill and Jim Harvey; a sister, Wilma Shultz; and a brother-in-law, Jim Hood.

He is survived by sons, John Thomas and his wife Donetta of Oliver Springs, and Claude (Buster) Harvey III of Knoxville; two daughters, Claudia Maxine Harvey Patterson, and Donna Maria Harvey Whedbee and husband Joe all of Oliver Springs; five grandchildren, Joseph Michael Whedbee and his wife Beth of Kingston, Jennie Shea Watts of Maryville, John Mark Whedbee and wife Amanda of Knoxville, and Rebecca Ann and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Harvey, both of Knoxville; great-grandchildren Caden and Ava Whedbee, Claudia Sydney Watts and Parker Whedbee; two sisters, Patsy Begley of Harriman, and Barbara Hood of Crossville; and two sisters-in-law Betty Harvey of Harriman and Dortha Brown of Oliver Springs; and one brother-in-law Bob Schultz of Wartburg; a host of nieces and nephews; and special friends Rev. Jerry and wife Carol Prevo of Anchorage, Alaska.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to the Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church Building Fund or the Oliver Springs Historical Society.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church with Pastor Garvan Walls and Rev. Jerry Prevo officiating. A reception followed at the church.

The graveside service was at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, at the Oliver Springs cemetery.

An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com.