Harvey Ray Elven

Harvey Ray Elven, 89, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 9, after a brave fight to overcome the effects of COVID-19. Harvey was the first baby of the year born in Johnson County, Kansas, on Jan. 1, 1931. Along with mother, Elsie Leming Elven; his father, Vernor Clemons Elven, a World War I veteran; and his brother, Stanley Clemons Elven, Harvey lived in a log house with no running water or electricity in rural Desoto, Kansas, where the brothers attended a one-room school house. He also had an older half-sister, Hazel Moore, who lived in Nebraska.

Harvey’s schooling was cut short by years of fighting osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection, for which he became one of the earliest patients treated with penicillin. The treatment saved his leg and, most likely, his life. In 1949, Harvey met Angeline (Angie) Rose Colletti, a graduate of Kansas City’s Northeast High School. It was love at first sight when he attended church on July 3, 1949, where he saw her singing with her sister. They were married a year later on July 1, 1950. Their union resulted in a son, Darrell, and daughter, Joyce. Harvey worked for Kansas City Terminal Railway at Union Station for 25 years and for Allied Armature for 17 years, from which he retired in 1994. Throughout his adult life, Harvey was known as a gregarious and generous friend to all, always offering to put his mechanical skills to work repairing lawn mowers, weed eaters and car engines as well as rebuilding car alternators, starters and every other troubled part landing on his workbench. Along with fixing equipment and machinery for friends and family, Harvey was constantly in prayer for those in need and consistently covered his close and extended family with prayer.

His wife, Angie, considers him her best friend, cruise companion and “her everything,” especially as he became her eyes during recent years. His children remember him as a hard-working, wise and loving father, always quick to hug, help and advise. Along with Angie, Harvey moved to Gladstone in 1974 and was an active and dedicated member of Northland Cathedral for over 60 years.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister.

He is survived by his wife, Angie; son, Darrell (Kathy Holford) Elven of Warrenton, Missouri; daughter Joyce Elven (Jodi Teal) of Dallas, Texas; five grandsons, Christopher (Megan) Elven; Jeffrey (Amanda) Elven; Nicholas (Stephanie) Elven; Joseph Elven; and Gates Teal; and seven great-grandchildren, Benjamin, Jackson, Masie, JJ, Gwendolyn, Colin and Tessa. He also will be missed by many cousins, nephews and nieces.

Our family extends deep gratitude to the team of skilled and compassionate nurses, doctors and palliative care personnel of 10-North and the second floor ICU of North Kansas City Hospital. We also are grateful to our Northland Cathedral family for your prayer, meals and love.

There will be a drive-by visitation from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Northland Cathedral, 101 NW 99th St., followed by an outdoor service at 11 a.m. Interment will be at White Chapel Cemetery for immediate family and by invitation. Visitation, outdoor service and graveside service will be streamed on the Northland Cathedral website (northlandcathedral.org) and Facebook page.

Since there will be no guestbook at the services, we invite you to please sign the online Condolence and Memories section.

In place of flowers, please consider contributions in Harvey’s name to Northland Cathedral’s missions program.