Mary Joe (Yardas) Harvey was born on April 6, 1929, in Nashville, Tennessee, and was called home to her Lord and Savior on March 4, 2021. The oldest child of Daisy and Joe Yardas, the family moved to Corpus Christi, Texas, when Mary Joe was ten years old. While there she graduated from Miller High School, after which she went on to get her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Education from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. She married Roger Anderson of Winnebago, Minnesota, a true officer and a gentleman, in September of 1952. The newlyweds were stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. In February of 1954, their only child, Rogie, was born while Roger was deployed overseas. Tragically, Roger would never have the opportunity to see Mary Joe again, or to meet his beautiful daughter, as he was lost in an aircraft accident while serving his country in the United States Navy.
Following a time living with family in Corpus Christi, Mary Joe, her sister Jean, and Rogie moved to Port Arthur where they lived for a year. Upon returning to Corpus Christi, Mary Joe taught junior high and high school choir for 13 years until moving to Houston in 1968. During that time Mary Joe and Rogie enjoyed summers in Winnebago with Rogie's paternal grandparents, Laura and Roger Anderson. Some of their fondest memories came during those carefree days in Minnesota.
Shortly after Rogie graduated from high school, Mary Joe married the second love of her life, Chuck Harvey, on June 17,1972. The couple was married for 42 years, until Chuck's passing in 2014. During that time they attended Memorial Drive United Methodist Church and were members of the Bridgebuilders Sunday School Class, making many cherished friendships. Later on, Mary Joe and Chuck joined Second Baptist Church - Houston.
Mary Joe was Choral Director at Westchester High School and later at Cy-Fair High School where she retired in 1984, after 28 years as a music educator. She loved her "choir kids", as she called them, and was loved in return, often receiving letters from former students expressing their appreciation for how much she affected their lives in so many positive ways.
After retirement, Mary Joe was involved in her grandchildren's lives. She loved attending their choir concerts, band concerts, dance recitals, swim meets, soccer and baseball games, to name a few. One of her favorite activities each year was taking her granddaughter, Jennifer, to the Nutcracker Ballet during the Christmas season. Another favorite was accompanying her grandchildren during the annual UIL choir competition. She was a proud Aggie Grandma to Reid, Todd & Jennifer.
Mary Joe is survived by her daughter, Rogie and husband Jim; her grandson Reid, wife Ana and great grandson, Elijah; grandson Todd, wife Esra, great grandson, Royce and great granddaughter, Grace; granddaughter Jennifer, husband Will and great grandson, Carter; sister Jean Blackwell, brother Joe Yardas and wife Nancy; brother-in-law Jack Anderson and wife Bonnie; and numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the charity of your choice.
BIRTH
Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA
DEATH
4 Mar 2021 (aged 91) Texas, USA
BURIAL
Klein Memorial Park Pinehurst, Montgomery County, Texas
