Theodore "Ted" Thomas Harley Sr.

Ted Harley was born February 7, 1925 in Louisville, KY to the late William P. Harley Jr and Louise Baker. He grew up on Lytle Street in the Portland area, and went to St. Cecelia School. He was the second of 5 children born to William and Louise.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, he attempted to enlist in the Navy. Told them he was 18. While going through the enlistment process, the recruiter discovered that he was 16 and gave him the boot. He finally enlisted in the Navy February 1943.

While working at Adlers. Manufacturing Company, he me Loraine Eversole. She had moved to Louisville from Harlan County, KY. They dated until he left for boot camp in Great Lakes IL. While on his three-day boot leave, Ted and Loraine were married in the rectory of St. Cecelia Church. Right after they were married, they left Louisville for Norfolk Virginia where Ted received order for USS NEW YORK (BB-34).

Loraine passed away in January 2003, just a few weeks prior of their 60th anniversary.

In November 1945, he was released from active duty, and returned to Louisville. He returned to his job at Adlers. After Adlers shut down, he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of engineers at lock & dam 41 on the Ohio River. He left the Corps of Engineer in 1952, and started working as a painter at Forman. He then transferred to plant security, where he worked until his retirement in 1987 after 36 years.

After retirement, he did a lot of volunteer work at his local parish, Immaculate Conception in LaGrange, KY. He always had a place in his heart for the poor and struggling people of the area. Ted, along with retired Judge Dennis Fritz started a food ministry out of the basement at Immaculate Conception. They would collect baked goods and other food products that would have been thrown away, and would distribute them to those in need. The ministry grew so much that volunteers from other churches joined in and helped.

A few years later, he read an article about Good Shepheard Mission in Campton KY. Campton is in an economically depressed community in South Kentucky that ministry is still functioning today.

He is preceded in death by his brother’s; Martin, Louis, and James, sister; Margaret Snyder, granddaughter; Sarah Finner, and great grandson; Zachary Bryant Harley.

He is survived by his three children; Tom Harley (Ginny) Doug Harley and Cheryl Mitchum (Rob), and Daughter in Law; Nancy Harley, grandchildren; Chris Harley ( Amy) of Meridian MS, David Harley, Dean Harley, and Dale Harley(Shawna) of Louisville, Danny Harley(Kim) of Greenwood IN, Amber Taylor (Bobby) of Shelbyville, KY, Dustin Meiners(Rosemary) of Crestwood, and Chelsie Glover.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, May 15, 2023 at 11am at Immaculate Conception Church in LaGrange, with a burial to follow at Louisville Memorial Gardens East. Visitation will be held Sunday May 14, 2023 from 2-6, with a prayer service at 6pm at Heady-Radcliffe Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 706 West Jefferson St. in LaGrange.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hosparus Health Louisville.