Forrest Michael "Mike" Harvey

Funeral Mass for Forrest Michael (Mike) Harvey, 63, of Monroe, will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 28, 2018, at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 2510 Emerson, Monroe, with Father Job Edathinatt, assisted by Father Biju Kuriakose and Father Keith Garvin. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home of Monroe. Visitation will be held from 4 pm until 7 pm on Friday, April 27, 2018, at Mulhearn Funeral Home on Sterlington Road, Monroe.
Mike was born in El Paso, Texas, on December 24, 1954, to the union of Virginia Borum Harvey and Henry Forrest Harvey. Five days later, Forrest was discharged from the U. S. Air Force and he and his new family drove home to Watertown, Tennessee. Mike’s early childhood was spent in Lebanon and Murfreesboro, Tennessee and he enjoyed weekends at his grandparents’ farm in Watertown. His fondest memories included time spent with his maternal grandfather.
Mike’s father’s job with the Mid South Regional Office of State Farm brought the family to Monroe in the summer of 1968. Mike participated in football, basketball and track at Lee Junior High where he forged lifelong friendships. His football team at Lee was undefeated, and Neville Athletic Director, Coach Bill Ruple, predicted a State Championship for Neville in 1972! At Neville, he played varsity baseball for four seasons and his beloved Neville Tiger football team for four years. He was very proud to be a part of the 1972 undefeated 4-A State Champions who famously won three games in eight days. His teammates remain a close-knit band of brothers to this day.
Mike was an outfielder and pitcher for the Neville Tiger baseball team making the playoffs his junior and senior seasons, finishing as state runner up in 1972. He was selected District MVP and All-State First Team his senior year. He signed a scholarship to play baseball at NLU.
He was a lifelong supporter of Neville High School and remained devoted to his Neville High School teammates and classmates throughout his life. All three of his children were graduates of Neville as well.
Although he didn’t start playing golf until he was an adult, he mastered the game and as with other sports became the guy that everybody wanted on their team. Mike enjoyed playing at golf courses all over the country with his golfing friends. He had 5 holes in one. Mike will always be remembered for his confidence and always believing he could make the next shot and still get birdie, no matter where his first shot had gone.
Mike had a lifelong career in the sporting goods industry, beginning in local retail in Monroe. For the last thirty years he has worked as a salesman with the Dunkin Lewis Company out of Birmingham. Although he was not a fisherman, he was one of the leading salesmen in the marine division. His specialty was in Minn-Kota and Humminbird products. Mike considered Mr. Charlie Dunkin to be his “second father” and all his co-workers as his “second family.” Throughout his career Mike made innumerable deep friendships in the industry.
Mike met his beloved wife, Buff, on the first day of eighth grade where he sat behind her in class. He never forgot what she was wearing that day. They married on July 22, 1974, in Vicksburg, Mississippi. They would have celebrated forty-four years of marriage this summer. Mike was a devoted father to Michael, Rachel, and Thomas. A forty-year member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Mike recently became Catholic after attending an ACTS retreat.
Preceding him in death were his beloved father, Forrest Harvey, and his mother and father-in-law Liz and George Miller.
He is survived by his loving wife, Buff, and his children, Michael (Jansen), Rachel (John) Sitton, and Tomas (Brandy.) Also left to treasure his memory are his grandchildren: Georgia and Parks Harvey, Stuart and Henry Sitton, and Lane Harvey. Surviving family also include his mother, Virginia Harvey, his brothers, Bill (Michelle) and Tim (Susan), and numerous nephews and a niece, and his canine companion, Annie.
Pallbearers will be Bruce Hanks, Allen Taylor, John Robinson, Corey Taylor, Duane Collins, Brian Brumfield, Byron Lippert, Fuzzy Lambert, Ryan Harvey, Matthew Harvey and Christopher Harvey.
Honorary pallbearers are David Barnes, Bob Brown, Bob Cooper, Charlie Dunkin, Bill Ethridge, Joe Farr, Mike Husted, Gary Mahan, Wally McMakin, Milton Moore, Van Pardue, Gary Roberts, James Scalia, Jay Swanson, Elvis Surles, and Ad Walker.
The family wishes to thank all who came with food, flowers, and loving arms that held us up. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. David Barnes, his longtime friend and physician. We also want to express our gratitude to Dr. Barry Weinberger whom Mike trusted as both doctor and friend for many years. We also want to thank Dr. Warren Green, Dr. Lee Pankey, and Dr. Marshall Cain for their expertise and wisdom. A special thanks to St. Joseph Hospice, Shannon Newton, Lauren Walker, and Shannon Morrow for their compassionate care of Mike.
Memorials may be made in Mike’s name to Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Neville Alumni and Friends Association, or the charity of your choice.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com

Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA