Bobby Harvell

Bobby Harvell of Wallace, NC left this earthly life on Saturday morning, December 14, 2019 while at Duplin Vidant Hospital in Kenansville.  Born on September 12, 1936, he was the son of the late Robert Henry and Annie Moore Harvell.  Also preceding him in death are his wife—Inez Moore Harvell; wife—Elizabeth Harvell; son—Mitchell Cavenaugh; son-in-law—Rayond E. Bradshaw.

Left behind to cherish his memory are children—Taffy Harvell Horne and husband Timmy of Richlands, Shelby Harvell Boone and husband Allen of Teachey, Bobby Ray Harvell of Harrells, Jennifer Harvell of Clinton, Joy Harvell Murray of Beulaville, Bobby Jason Harvell of Wilmington, Michele Bradshaw of Wallace, and Orvis Glenn Cavenaugh and wife Janice of Wallace; sister-in-law—Sarah Harvell of Willard;  grandchildren—T.J. Horne, Brittani Boone, Justin Harvell, Amanda Harvell, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Lopez, Jason Blake Harvell, Crystall Robinson, Jacob Bradshaw, Kayla Cavenaugh, Corey Cavanaugh, Bryan Cavenaugh, and Bradley Cavenaugh; great grandchildren—Madalee Boney, Tate Harris, Jacob Bradshaw Jr, Josiah Bradshaw, Rose Bradshaw, Regan Cummings, Hailey Cummings, Sydney Robinson, Dalton Long, Grayson Long, Sophia Lopez, and Jalen Rich.

Mr. Harvell was a kind, loving, reliable, decent, honorable, and respectful man.  These are qualities that he, not only held in high esteem, but practiced every day during his time on earth.  He was a serious and disciplined man but he could never resist the opportunity to laugh with friends and loved ones. 

He saw a lot during his lifetime, a world ravaged and influenced by a war and a world of uncertain times.  All these life experiences understandably influenced his views and how he himself grew up and later raised his own family during a world of social and cultural revolution exploding around him in the onset of the 1960’s.

Bobby was one of five children who grew up in Harrells and then moved to Wallace where he worked in the textile industry for many years.  He always dreamed of owning his own business.  “Heating and Air” was his passion and, while working full time to provide for his family, he studied and learned a trade and opened his own shop—Harvell’s Heating and Air Conditioning in Tin City.

As a father of nine, he worked hard to assure that his family and parental needs were provided.  He would rarely take time out to do things he enjoyed like hunting, fishing, and trapping.  When he was younger, he would take his children on all his adventures and would catch some big beavers, otters and raccoons.  He would marvel at the price his acquaintances would pay for the furs he provided them.  He was an excellent hunter and would bring home many squirrels for a big pot of squirrel and rice stew and deer hunting.  He also had a passion for fishing and many Saturday mornings were spent pond fishing or fishing on the river while teaching his children how to bait a hook and reel in “them big basses” and also many unwelcome critters.  He also loved to fish in the ocean.  He would take his children with him floundering and, at one point, bought a big boat and named it “Amanda Dawn” after his granddaughter.  Being a straightforward man, he demanded little from those around him and he expected only the best for his children.

He sometimes would hear from his family regularly and see them whenever possible but he was content.  Although in his final years some family members moved into different directions  and parts of the world, that bond was never broken.   He was a spiritual man.  He kept those thoughts and feelings between God and himself but he would always make it priority, on Sunday mornings, to watch Pastor Charles Stanley.  For hours he would sit and listen to him preaching.  That was his time learning from the Word of God.

Mr. Harvell loved telling stories and when one visited him at work or home, they would be much enlightened and dazzled at all the things, life events, and people he would discuss with them.  One did not just “pop in” and say hello because it would always be long conversations about things he would remember.  He was a great storyteller.  According to family, his finest qualities were patience, love and his inherent ability to listen, absorb and offer support and a point of view based on his quiet measured wisdom.

A graveside funeral service will be held for Mr. Harvell on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at 11:00 am in the Rockfish Memorial Park—6269 South NC Highway 41—Wallace, NC.  As we remember and honor his life, we bid him farewell.  We will mourn the loss of a lively dignified soul who brought much joy and fulfillment to many and whose legacy will live on forever.  Family will love him for all their years to come and he will always be their hero.

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