News

Golf Loses Great Friend, Great Man, Gene Harvey

Gene Harvey, a former board member of the Utah Golf Association and past president of the Alpine Country Club, passed away last week and his funeral was Saturday. The UGA expresses sympathy to Gene’s family and friends and to members of the Alpine Country Club and we regret that we missed the obituary and are late in informing his many golfing friends of his passing.
Gene was a leader by example and by actions. He was a wonderful board member for the Utah Golf Association and a long-time leader of the Alpine Country Club. He and his friends loved golf and Alpine Country Club and they were the core of the club. They set high standards while being warm and friendly and welcoming to all. Most of all, they had fun and they were a joy to be around.
Alpine Country Club has been represented on the UGA board almost continually since it was founded. Lew Shue, Don Overly, and Larry Terry preceded Gene and then came Doug Mercer and Dave Dorton and is now represented by Randy Hadfield.
The club has been an integral part of the UGA eight-man team competitions and a host of many events, including the Utah State Am seven times, numerous USGA qualifying events, and the Utah Open and Gene has been an integral part of all those activities and events.
The obituary is as follows:
Gene Harvey1920 ~ 2013
Louis Eugene Harvey passed away in his home on November 12, 2013 surrounded by his family.
He was born March 30, 1920 to Leo Paul Harvey and Arvilla Sarah Christensen. He married Betty Jean Reid January 30, 1950 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Gene majored in business at BYU. In 1968, he purchased the controlling stock of Timpanogos Motors and reorganized the business as Gene Harvey Chevrolet. He was an auto dealer for 60 years and worked daily until he was 93 years old.
Appointed to the prestigious General Motors Dealer’s Advisory Council, he also became President of the Utah County Automobile Dealers Association three times, was twice President of the Utah Auto Dealers Association, and in 2000 Gene was inducted into the Utah Auto Dealers Association Hall of Fame. In 1979 he received the Quality Time Dealer Award from “Time” Magazine.
Community service was continual in his life. He was President of the Rotary Club and the President of the Chamber of Commerce two times. He was also an Advisor to the School of Business at UVU, and President of the Alpine Country Club.
As a member of the LDS Church, he served as a missionary in the Central States Mission. He also served as Bishop of the American Fork 8th Ward and as a Branch President at the Provo Missionary Training Center.
Gene was happiest when he was in the company of family and friends or out on the golf course.
Gene is remembered and loved by his wife, Betty, and his children: Kristie (Phil) Harker, Karen (Rocky) Hanson, Ron (Julie) Harvey, Tammy (Jan) Stephan, Lisa (John) Van Wagoner, 21 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, his brothers: J.H., Ken, David, and Jim Harvey. He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. in the Highland East Stake Center, 4679 W. 11000 N., near the mouth of American Fork Canyon. Friends and family may call Friday between 6-8 p.m. at the Anderson & Sons Lone Peak Chapel, 6141 W. 11000 N., Highland and Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Stake Center. Interment will be in the American Fork City Cemetery. Condolences and memories may be shared online at andersonmortuary.com.
Dad, we love you and will miss you every day of our lives. Thank you for showing us how to live well and endure with grace.
Published in Salt Lake Tribune from Nov. 14 to Nov. 15, 2013