Obituary - Effie Harvey

Wednesday, January 04, 2007
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Longtime Douglas resident Effie Lynch Harvey died Dec. 22, 2006, at the Pioneers' Home in Juneau. She was 93.
Born Dec. 31, 1912, to Leona and William Fleek in Douglas, she was the third of 11 children.

She attended school in Douglas and graduated from Douglas High School in 1931. As the third oldest in the family, she stayed home after her graduation to help her mother. Although she had wanted to be a nurse, she settled instead for a variety of jobs that included working in a cannery, caring for children, and working in restaurants. During World War II, she worked at the Sugar Bowl in Juneau. After that, she worked at Mike's Place in Douglas for nearly 40 years, retiring in 1984.

During her many years as a waitress, she most probably served all of the governors and nearly all of the legislators in Juneau during that time, and served a few celebrities as well, including John Wayne.

Before her health started to decline with the onset of Alzheimer's, she enjoyed spending time with family, reading, crocheting, swimming, bowling, gardening and card playing. She was active in the Emblem Club, the Ladies of the Moose and the Pioneers of Alaska. Occasionally, she helped serve lunches for senior citizens at the Douglas Methodist Church.

"I like being around people." Harvey said, when interviewed about being the Grand Marshall for the 1987 Douglas Fourth of July Parade.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Gwendolyn Fleek; brothers, Albert, Dale, Everett, Dayton, Clayton, Irvin and Norman Fleek; husbands, Carl Lindstrom, Paul Harvey and Joe Lynch; sisters-in-law Jenny (Lindstrom) Hartman and Tillie (Lindstrom) Warner; and brother-in-law, Dwayne "Dingle" Harvey.

She is survived by her daughters: Leona Hedman and her husband, Don, of Mukilteo, Wash.; Esther Stevenson and her husband, Russell, of Yuma, Ariz.; Sylvia Harvey of Douglas; and Debbie Lambrecht and her husband, Dick, of Alex, Okla.; sister, Alfreda Dore of Douglas; brother, Wilfred Fleek and his wife, Pauline, of Tukwila, Wash.; grandchildren of Juneau: Mike Stevenson and his wife, Janice; Dan Stevenson and his wife, Tonya; and Judie Klemmetson and her husband, Greg; grandchildren: Kevin Stevenson and his wife, Jessica, of Wasilla; Vickie Hedman of Edmonds, Wash.; Paul Hedman of Redondo Beach, Calif.; and Sheldon Lambrecht and his wife, Amber, of Tuttle, Okla.; sister-in-law, Betty (Harvey) Johnson of Shelton, Wash.; 11 great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A family memorial will be held sometime during summer 2007, when her remains will be placed next to Paul Harvey in the Fleek Family Plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Juneau.

Memorial donations may be made to the Resident Council of the Juneau Pioneer Home, 4675 Glacier Highway, Juneau AK, 99801, or the charity of choice. Family may be contacted through Sylvia Harvey, 900 1st St. No. 2, Douglas, AK 99824.