James Warren Harvey (88) of Newton

James Warren Harvey age 88 of Newton passed away Sunday, February 28, 2021 at Carle Richland Memorial Hospital Long-term Care Unit, Olney, Illinois.

Private family services will be held at the Crain Funeral Home, Newton with Rev. Amy Jeffries officiating. Masonic rites will be offered by Newton Masonic Lodge No. 216 A.F. & A.M. Burial will in the West Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Newton, Illinois.

James was born the son of Hobart (Doc) Harrison Harvey and Katie Margaret (Isenburg) Harvey. He received his first name from an uncle on his mom’s side of the family James Washburn. James Washburn told Hobart that if he would name his son after him, he would give Hobart his U.S. Trenton Civil War rifle and ten dollars and so it was the beginning of James Warren’s life on Earth.

James Warren Harvey was known as Warren Harvey. Warren endured the great depression as a youngster. He went to a one room school house for grade school and graduated high school in 1950. He married Norma Dean Woodard on June 3, 1951. He was a farmer all his life and loved hunting but worked several jobs also. He managed the Western Auto Store in Newton, graded roads for Smallwood Township, helped the veterinarian check cattle in Smallwood and parts of Wade Township for Tuberculosis and worked for Baker Equipment building grain bins. He also had a Seismographic Sensor with the United States Geological Survey on his farm for one year to measure the Earth’s crust movement. He was a life member since 1961 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Illinois and had served as Master Mason of Newton Lodge No. 216 and a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Newton. He was retired from farming.

He is survived by his four children Steven (Janet) Harvey, Terry (Margo) Harvey, Randy (Linda) Harvey, and Cathy (Mark) Benefiel. Grandchildren Matthew Harvey, Jessica Harvey, Kristen Harvey (special friend Roger Dyer), Jill (Troy) Hardwick, Seth Harvey, Kelly (Doug) Iffert, Jesse (Alison) Harvey, Jerod (Brooke) Harvey, Katie Harvey (special friend Jeffery Short), Josh James, Tyler James (special friend Bridgette Reader); sixteen great grandchildren and special friend Vera Eubank.

He was preceded in death by his parents Hobart (Doc) Harrison Harvey, Katie Margaret (Isenburg) Harvey, his wife Norma Dean (Woodard) Harvey and sister Margaret Rose (Durbin) (Butts).

Memorial gifts in honor of James Warren may be made to the Newton Masonic Lodge No. 216 A.F. & A.M.

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