Obituary of Billy Harkey

BILL HARKEY Graveside services for Billy Bryan Harkey, 88, of New Deal, TX, will be held at 10:00 am Monday, July 28, 2014, in the Abernathy Cemetery with Rev. Janet Edwards officiating. Family will receive friends at the Abernathy First United Methodist Church, Sunday evening 5:00 pm until 6:30 pm. Services are under the direction of Abell Funeral Home & Flower Shop of Abernathy, TX. Mr. Harkey was born September 9, 1925, in Pottsville, Ark., on Crow Mountain. He married Ann Veronica Tierney February 8, 1944 in Sekonk, Mass. She preceded him in death on January 23, 2004. His family moved to Texas in 1939 from Arkansas and he graduated Abernathy High School in 1943. He served in the Navy Sea Bees in Pearl Harbor and the Philipines. After his service in WWII, he returned to his home town where he worked various jobs. He was the bus foreman and bus driver for the Abernathy ISD, he was owner and operator of Texaco in 1954-1955. He was employed as a butcher and worked some at Abernathy First State Bank. He was one of the first two Lubbock Motorcycle Police Officers selected and drove for 12 years. He was a safety supervisor for Steere Tank Lines and drove a truck for Furr's Cafeteria. He farmed in the Abernathy and New Deal areas and was a member of the Abernathy First United Methodist Church.. He went on the South Plains Honor Flight in October of 2013. He is survived by 3 sons, Billy R. Harkey and wife Janie of New Deal, TX, Wayne Harkey and wife Leigh of Abernathy, TX, and Bryan Harkey and wife Debbie of Lubbock, TX, a daughter, Yvonne Griffis and husband Alva of New Deal, TX, 12 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Susie Harkey of Abernathy. Bill never met a stranger and "His quick wit and storytelling made us laugh constantly!" The family suggests memorials be sent to the South Plains Honor Flight, P. O. Box 94787, Lubbock, TX 79493, The First United Methodist Church, 701 Ave. D, Abernathy, TX 79311 or the Abernathy Cemetery, c/o First State Bank, P.O. Box 150, Abernathy, TX 79311.