Ruth Eriksen Harvey

Memorial services for Ruth Eriksen Harvey, 85, of Thomasville are 11:00 am, Saturday, January 31, 2009 at First Baptist Church Chapel. The family will receive friends 10:00 am to 11:00 am before the service. Burial will follow at a later date in Felts Mills, NY. Mrs. Harvey passed away January 30, 2009, at her residence. Born October 15, 1923 in La Fargeville, NY, she was the daughter of the late Toralf & Helen nee Crowner Eriksen. On May 3, 1941 she married Paul F. Harvey, who preceded her in death on August 12, 1995. She enjoyed most of her life in Carthage, NY. An active organizer & volunteer throughout her life, she served with Girl Scouts, United Way and Red Cross, among many, and frequently organized services for victims of home & farm fires and snowstorm victims without power. She served in many volunteer capacities with her church family at Long Falls Baptist Church in Carthage, NY. After raising her family, Ruth returned to college, earning 2 associate degrees in the 1960's. She worked as an executive secretary at both Fort Drum and Mack Truck in Watertown, NY for about 12 years. She opened her own business, Fashion Fabrics, in Carthage in 1978. She formally retired her business in January of 2005 and resettled near her son & family in Thomasville. Her lifelong passion was as an excellent seamstress, producing quality clothing for her family & friends and occasionally professional draperies in support of her husband's business, Harvey Brothers Decorators. In midlife, she began her beloved hobby of quilting, producing dozens of prizewinning quilts for family, friends & fundraisers, such as public television. She downhill skied into her 60's, enjoyed casual golfing and frequently displayed her quilts at professional shows. Throughout her life she shared her sewing skills with students of every age, concentrating on quilting over the last 30 years. Her foreign travels took her to Majorca & Hawaii but a special joy were her trips to visit her many family in Norway and hosting their travel around the USA. Survivors include her three children Susan Harvey Curtis of Green Bay WI, Ralph W. Harvey and wife Cheryl of Thomasville and Rolayne Harvey Schwendy & husband Glen of Oriental, NC, 6 grandchildren, Dana L. Walker of Garland, TX, Megan E. Curtis of Green Bay, WI, Eric W. Harvey of Thomasville, Joshua D. Curtis of Green Bay, WI, Lisl Schwendy of Syracuse, NY and Erika Schwendy of Oriental, NC. She was preceded in death by her brother, Donald in 2007. Friends may sign the online guest register at www.allenfh.com