1931 – 2015

LITCHFIELD — Merrill O. Harvey was born in Gardiner on Oct. 11, 1931, the youngest son of Charles H. and Evelyn Smith Harvey. He attended Litchfield schools and graduated from Litchfield Academy in 1950.

He worked in construction and then spent four years in the Navy, after which he worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in research and development of aircraft engines, until he took over operation of the Harvey family dairy farm.

In 1953, he married Madelyn (Patty) Fish and they had seven children. They recently celebrated 61 years of marriage.

Tutt, as he was called, served in most all capacities in the Town of Litchfield and local organizations, as well as county and state organizations. His favorite position was as deacon of the Litchfield Plains Baptist Church, a position he held since 1960. He would like to be remembered as one who always cared for others.

He was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Richard and Eldon Harvey; daughter, Dorothy (Dodi) Washburn; and an infant son, Brian.

He is survived by his wife, Patty; daughters, Dawn Mills, Kim Tessari and husband, Victor, Stephanie Robbins and companion, Doug Read, Margaret Harvey, Jennifer Oliver and husband, Dustin; son-in-law, Dan Washburn; sister, Arlene Morse; and brother, Malcolm Harvey. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Scott Mills and wife, Kelly, Isaiah Mills and companion, Brittany Hausknecht, Rance Mills, Courtney and Chelsey Goudreau, Eben Tessari, BJ Robbins, Mallory Marks and husband, Steve, William Harvey and companion, Nikole Lemay, Zackary Harvey and companion, Jessica Gowell, Oakley and Madelyn Oliver, Elijah, Luke and Olivia Washburn, Kayden Weston, Connor O’Neal, Levi, Keegan and Julia Marks, and Lilly Harvey. He is also survived by many others whose lives he influenced, who knew and loved him as a father figure, and as Tutt or Bumpa.

The above was what Dad wrote for his obituary. He said he didn’t want any more written because he didn’t want to be boastful. So like Dad, we have so much more to say. Merrill passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 18, on his own terms. He worked so hard every day, raising six daughters and putting them all through college. He saved for five years and took his entire family — wife, daughters and spouses — on a Caribbean cruise. He had special nicknames for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was the lone Yankee baseball fan in a family of Red Sox lovers. He loved our mom for 61 years and was loved and respected by anyone who ever met him. He was our wise advisor and our solid rock, who loved us all unconditionally. He lived his faith his entire life and showed us all the Christian way by example every day. Dad, we love you and will miss you forever.

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