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KINSTON - If you saw the man with a straw hat, pipe and
the "Attitude" lapel pin walking the streets of Kinston,
N.C. over these past many years, then you probably
caught a glimpse of Felix Harvey. His presence will be
greatly missed by his family and friends as he passed
away on Thursday, January 2, 2014, at the age of 93. He
was born Charles Felix Harvey in Kinston, N.C. on July
16, 1920. He loved life and he lived it to its fullest.
He loved business; he loved politics; he loved the
outdoors. But even more, he loved his many friends and
business associates and he especially loved his family.
Nicknames are terms of endearment and Felix Harvey had
almost as many nicknames as he did friends:
During the Depression, friends and neighbors who bought
vegetables from a tall and skinny six year old called
him "Sonny."
His baseball team at Woodberry Forest called their third
basemen "Jeep."
While in New Guinea in the South Pacific during World
War II, his PT boat crew called him "Skipper."
Margaret Blount Harvey, his wife of 67 years, and his
sister Myrtilla Harvey Brody called him "Felix."
His many co-workers called him "Captain."
Many of his employees called him "Mr. Harvey."
His three nieces, Harvey Wooten, Katherine Covington and
Laura Ball called him "Uncle Stix."
His two daughters, Leigh Harvey McNairy and Sunny Harvey
Burrows, and his seven grandchildren and three
great-grandchildren called him "Pop Pop."
Felix Harvey firmly believed in a positive attitude.
Each morning he read: "The longer I live, the more I
realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me
is more important than education, than money, than
circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what
other people think, or say, or do. It is more important
than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or
break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing
is that we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude
we embrace that day. We cannot change our past ... we
cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do
is play on the one string we have, and that is attitude.
I am convinced that life is 10% of what happens to me
and 90% of how I react to it." And so it is with you. We
are in charge of our ATTITUDES. Felix Harvey is survived
by his wife, Margaret Blount Harvey; his daughters,
Leigh Harvey McNairy of Kinston, N.C. and Sunny Harvey
Burrows of Atlanta, Ga.; his sons-in-law, John Onslow
McNairy of Kinston and Robert Lee Burrows Jr. of
Atlanta; his seven grandchildren, Charlie McNairy of
Raleigh/Kinston, N.C. (and his wife Lizzie McNairy and
their son Mac), Molly McNairy of New York, N.Y., (and
her husband PJ Deschenes and their son Felix and their
daughter Magnolia), MeMe McNairy of Raleigh, N.C., Jack
McNairy of Kinston, N.C., Margaret Burrows, Mary Lawson
Burrows, and Adelaide Burrows, all of Atlanta, Ga.; his
sister, Myrtilla Harvey Brody of Kinston and her three
daughters, Harvey Wooten of Greenville, N.C., Katherine
Covington of High Point, N.C., and Laura Ball of
Morehead City, N.C. A reception to celebrate his life
will be held at the Kinston Country Club on Monday,
January 6, 2014, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. He specifically
requested that all friends are welcome. A private burial
service for his immediate family will occur prior to the
reception. Memorial contributions in honor of Felix
Harvey may be made to Queen Street United Methodist
Church and the Salvation Army, both in Kinston, N.C.
Online condolences may be sent to howardandcarter.com.
Howard-Carter Funeral Home is assisting the family with
arrangements. |
