David E Harney

On April 30th 1943 in Cynthiana, KY David was born to Stanley and Josephine Harney. To hear him tell it, he had a hand in it. Dave would always say “I was supposed to be an April fools baby, but I fooled them all and came at the end of the month.” This began the life of a man who never met a stranger, always had a joke in his pocket, but never backed down from a serious moment.

Dave did most of his growing up with 3 sisters and a brother on a farm in Kentucky. Maxine, Brenda, Ruth and Charlie, who all survive him, were there for those first 16 years before the baby of the family, Steve, came along. David would say that Steve grew up with a different Stanley (dad) than he and the others did. Stanley, he believed, was worn out by the time Steve came along.

Music was always a part of David’s life. Singing at county fairs, school and in church services, but that was the extent of the role the church played in his formational years. Little did he know then the part it would play later in his life.

In the early 60’s Dave met a girl from a larger and crazier family than his own. Mary Adamson caught his attention right away. In fact, he would tell you that he saw her one day while working at Rhodes Feed Mill when her family brought walnuts by for processing as he was helping unload the cargo. He was smitten in that moment, but never got her name. Years later the two of them would show up on a double date, with other people, and he once again would fall for her. Eventually the two relationships would end and a new one would be born, creating a bond that we would all know for 55+ years as Dave and Mary.

On December 5th 1965 that union would be finalized and a new family begun. Not keen on farm life, David and Mary moved to Dayton, OH. Dave had been in the army, but now had taken a job with Jewel T Company as a salesman. Not surprising to anyone, he was great at it. Engaging people, earning their respect and gaining the admiration of his employer as well as his colleagues. Dave had a bright future, but the script was about to be rewritten.

Andy and Jolene Hill, friends of Dave and Mary, would invite them to something strange called “Pack a Pew”. This was a regular outreach tactic used in the 60’s and 70’s to get people into church buildings to hear the good news of Jesus. It worked! Dave and Mary attended this new church, pastored by an enigmatic man by the name of Charles Lynn. On that first evening Mary would feel a need for a relationship with Jesus, but walk away only with conviction. However, as they talked at home, Dave would become convinced that this was the best path for their life and just weeks later they would both give their hearts, lives and all to Christ. The new story that we all know was about to begin.

It didn’t take long for Dave to jump in to serve. It’s who he was, he had to be active. He started out with Dr. Jack Henry and the teenagers of Faith Baptist Church. He was just there to help, but soon Dr. Henry would be sent away on military orders leaving Dave at the helm. Not long after that Pastor Lynn would ask Dave if he would help out with the music and choir at Faith Baptist. Famously Charles told Dave “If you could just help out in the meantime until we find someone else, that would be great!” Apparently they never found someone because 40 years later when Dave retired from Faith Baptist, he was still doing it.

Upon retirement, Dave forgot to retire. He spent the next 16 1/2 years traveling, singing, and encouraging people all over through Dave Harney Ministries. During that time Dave recorded 7 albums and 2 DVD’s worth of southern gospel music. He also sang and preached the good news to multiple churches in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia, Virginia, Florida, Oklahoma and Kansas. He loved to travel and encourage pastors to do what Brother Lynn had taught him years before “Keep on Keeping on”. When Dave passed, at 78 years old, he had multiple engagements already on his calendar, had purchased more CD’s to sell and showed no signs of slowing down, but there were other plans that bring us to today.

And that dash that lies between 1967 and 2021 is where we all come in.

Dave lived a life of service. Serving us all in many different ways. He helped raise some of you. He taught many to sing. He encouraged many to follow Jesus, some vocationally, but all passionately. For many he came to hospital rooms, prayed, encouraged and somehow got you to smile in the most dire circumstances of your life. He has sung and spoke at many funerals, weddings, concerts, services. Some of you named children after him and some of you are named in honor of him. If we believe that Jesus came to give us not just life, but FULL life… Dave experienced that, and many of us have experienced it because of his involvement in our lives.

Dave was preceded in death by his father Stanley David and mother Josephine Sipe as well as two brothers A.G. and Elmer Allen Harney. He is survived by his wife Mary, son John and Daughter-in-law Angel. His two grandsons that he loved dearly Spencer and Zac. His sisters Maxine, Brenda and Ruth. Brothers Charlie and Steve. An almost countless number of brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, along with thousands of people who would consider him a spiritual father.

And though we mourn today the loss of someone so instrumental to all our lives, I believe that Dave would quote the apostle John to tell you how he feels. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” So walk in truth and love and continue the legacy of a man who loved God more than he loved any of us.