HENRIETTA BARCLAY HARVEY

Henrietta Barclay Harvey was born in Marble, Minnesota on February 9, 1917 and died at the Homestead in Boulder City, Nevada on May 13, 2013.  She was the daughter of Durant Barclay, a mining engineer who helped survey the Mesabi Range and then opened and ran the iron mine at Marble, laying out the town and serving as mayor and chairman of the school and library boards as well as chairman of the Itasca County Republican Party.  Henrietta’s mother, Gertrude Steward Barclay, was educated at Carlton College and taught Latin prior to her marriage. 

Henrietta attended junior college in Colerain, MN and graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa in 1940 with a degree in home economics education.  After practice teaching, she was married to Harry Dale Harvey, a Travelers Insurance agent and fireman on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad, and moved to Boone, Iowa. 

The couple had three children, Joan Frances (1941), Judy Ione (1942) and Jacque Durant (1947).  During 13 months of World War II, when Harry was in the U.S. Navy submarine service, Henrietta ran his insurance agency out of their apartment while caring for their two preschool daughters.

In 1956 Mrs. Harvey returned to Iowa State to renew her teaching certificate and in 1957 the family moved to Boulder City, where she taught family relations as well as both high school and middle school home economics and sponsored the Future Homemakers of America (FHA) clubs at Boulder City High School.  She chaperoned   daughter Judy and other Nevada FHA delegates to the national convention in Washington, D.C., her first plane ride.

Both Joan and Judy completed high school in Boulder City.  With both girls away at college in 1962, the family moved to Las Vegas, where Mrs. Harvey taught junior high home economics, opening several new schools and served as head of the industrial arts departments.

After retiring in 1977, Mrs. Harvey served as local hostess for Governor List in his Clark county office and as a receptionist in the Volunteer Action Center.  On duty the day of the MGM fire, she took the calls from around the country and recruited the necessary language interpreters.  

Henrietta moved to Yucaipa, California in 1982 to be near her son Jacque and his family.  She was active in the Yucaipa Methodist Church, her homeowners’ association and bridge groups. 

Returning to Boulder City in 1999, Henrietta was active in Grace Community Church, Republican Women’s Association and various bridge groups. 

Much of the time since returning to Boulder City, Henrietta lived at The Homestead, where she was well cared for in her declining years.  She loved her apartment at The Homestead and enjoyed her many friends and acquaintances. 

Being able to have her hair done weekly and participate in worship without leaving The Homestead prolonged her quality of life.  But daily visits from daughter Judy and Judy’s wonderful care of her was what kept her going.  They had a very close relationship.

Help from Creekside Hospice along with the excellent staff at The Homestead were so much appreciated by both Henrietta and her family.

Each of her three children and five grandchildren was precious to Henrietta and she was delighted to have nine great grand-children as well. 

She is survived by all: daughter Judy Moore (B.C.) and her children Jeffrey Johnson (Holly) with children “Elly” and Evan of Henderson NV; and Jennifer Johnson Higgins (Christopher) with sons Scott and Lance of Big Bear Lake CA; Henrietta’s  daughter Joan Nelson (Birger) of Gig Harbor WA and her son Carlos del Rio (Rose) with son Rockford of Yakima WA and Henrietta’s son, Jacque Harvey (Carol) of Carlsbad CA and his sons Robert (Megan) with daughters Carson and Natalie of Steamboat Springs CO and Craig (Jaime) with children Stella and Jaxson of Minot ND.