Obituary of Tommie Harvey

Tommie T. Harvey, age 92, formerly of Rock Hill, SC passed away peacefully January 31, 2014 at her son's home in Pennsylvania, where she had recently located following the death of her husband, Richard E. Harvey. Tommie was preceded in death by her parents, William Lawrence Tuggle and Stella Mae Tuggle; husband Richard E. Harvey; first husband Robert Wilson Smith; son, Richard Lee Smith; sisters, Idella Odum Bright, Mary Lou Arnold, Florine Claytor; brothers Chester Tuggle and Henry Tuggle. Tommie is survived by her son, James Underwood Smith (Clara Sue) of State College, PA; stepchildren Kathy Fisher, Sheryl Hall, Cynthia Harvey, Richard Harvey II; granddaughter Dawn Smith and many other grandchildren. Following the loss of her 13-year old son in 1958 and the loss of her first husband in 1962, she moved to Charlotte to be near her son, Jim, and his family. She spent the next 52 years in the Charlotte, Tega Cay, and Rock Hill area as a devoted mother and as a working spouse in a variety of positions. She was a past member of the Eastern Star in Alabama, the CPA Auxiliary in Charlotte, and the Business Women's Club in Charlotte. She attended Haleyville High School and Jackson, Mississippi Business College. She enjoyed cooking, and one of her proudest achievements was the publication of a Southern cookbook in 1991, which was based mainly upon a collection of her extended family recipes. Its popularity among family and friends resulted in the need for a second printing. She was known and enjoyed by her friends for her beauty and her kind and gentle spirit. She and Richard loved to talk with their neighbors and feed their pets from their apartment porch. Until safe mobility became an issue for her, Tommie and Richard enjoyed the church services and their friendships at Northside Baptist Church in Rock Hill. A celebration of Tommie's 92-year life will be held in the spring with family and friends near her Haleyville, Alabama birthplace. Arrangements will be announced at a later date. Contributions in Tommie's memory can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or to Northside Baptist Church, 1140 Curtis Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.