She was born in Erie to Louis Earl and Grace Foxworthy Newton on July 25, 1923. She grew up and attended school in Erie, where she sang in the school choir, played violin and was drum major for the marching band, where she met William Orsen “Bill” Harvey.
After graduation from Erie High School, Bill joined the Navy, and they married June 21, 1942, in New York City. Their picture was in Parade Magazine in a story about war brides.
After the war, Mary and Bill made their home in Erie, and Mary worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Erie for several years. She raised a family, sang in the Erie Christian Church choir and sang duets with Marge Swan. She was in the Reading Club, helped with 4-H and was a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship.
In 1973, they moved to Pryor, Okla., and built a home on Lake Hudson. They were proud of their lake view home that inspired Mary to take up photography and drawing. Her photographs won prizes in the county fair, and she was featured on the Tulsa weather with a weather picture she took. She drew the lake in its different moods.
They joined the Baptist Church in Pryor. She sang in the choir and played the bells. They traveled with the Keenagers. She was a member and past president of the Pryor Home Demonstration Unit, chosen Homemaker of the Year in 1989 and loved working on HDU projects.
A neighborhood ladies group grew and “the girls” met Thursdays to quilt and get away from their husbands. She loved them dearly.
When Bill died in 2007, Mary returned to Erie and rejoined the Christian Church. She moved to Parsons in 2009 and lived in assisted living until 2011, when she moved to Elmhaven East, where she resided at her death.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Robert L. “Bob” Newton; her husband, Bill; a sister-in-law, Sharon Harvey Knetzer; a brother-in-law, Wayland Weston Harvey Jr.; and a son, Alan Harvey.
She is survived by a daughter, Anita Grace McDaniel (Tom) of Parsons; a son, Matthew Dean Harvey (Gina) of Pryor, Okla.; two grandsons, Robby Harvey of Pryor, Okla., and Michael Harvey of Panama City, Fla.; a granddaughter, Amber Madl (Todd) and two great-grandsons, Alex and Logan Madl, all of Pittsburg; her sisters, Catherine Cornell of Parsons and Mildred Urbom (Eugene) of Overton, Neb., and several nieces and nephews; a brother-in-law, Marvin Knetzer of Wichita; and a sister-in-law, Barbara Harvey of Overland Park.
The visitation is from 7 to 8 p.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home, Erie, and a graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at East Hill Cemetery, Erie.
The family suggests memorials be made to the Proud Animal Lovers Shelter or to Safe Haven Outreach in Parsons. They may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, 113 S. Main St., P.O. Box 182, Erie, 66733.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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