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Harvey Fitzwater

May 31, 1944 – August 30, 2017

Celebration of Life

Service was held on September 17, 2017 at Chico Alliance Church.

The audio and slideshow from the service are below the eulogy.

Harvey Fitzwater, 73

Written by daughter Norma

Harvey Fitzwater, 73, passed away on August 30, 2017, after a yearlong battle with cancer. Harvey was born in Compton, California on May 31, 1944 to Harold and Mildred Fitzwater. He was the 2nd child in a family of 6 children, and the eldest son. Siblings include: sisters, Nola Whitsett and Marie (Doug) Campbell; and brothers, Richard (Laura), Paul (Marsha), and Joel (previously deceased).

Harvey grew up working hard under the direction of his father, Harold, doing things like helping with the construction of the family home, digging ditches, and falling trees. Harvey grew up attending Erlands Point Bible Chapel, where he was involved in Jet Cadets, Jr. & Sr. high youth group, & singing, and where he met his lovely bride-to-be, Barbara Nelson. The Fitzwater and Nelson kids all grew up knowing each other, so neither could pinpoint exactly when Harvey and Barbara first met. Harvey proposed to Barbara in early summer of 1967. Not long afterward, they decided to elope, buying their marriage license in Mason County so their plans wouldn’t be revealed in the Bremerton newspaper. They married in a little church in downtown Poulsbo on July 28, 1967, and later had a lovely reception at Chico Alliance Church with family and friends. Harvey and Barbara’s first home was an apartment on Bainbridge Island, walking distance to the Seattle ferry, which they rented for only $75 per month! At that time, he worked for the bakery inside the Town & Country grocery store. Our family is proud to share that earlier this summer Harvey and Barbara celebrated 50 years of marriage!

In May of 1968, and April of 1970, Harvey and Barbara added daughters Norma (Patrick) and Elaine (Joe) to their family. The girls grew up knowing their parents loved them dearly. They attended Chico Alliance Church together; went on camping trips all over western Washington; attended family reunions every summer, and had fun visits with grandparents & aunts & uncles & cousins most weekends. The family enjoyed going for spontaneous long drives and getting surprised by dad stopping at random little stores and coming out with ice cream bars; and having silly fun with pets throughout the years (which was a riot, if you knew how dad played with animals!). Dad was what the girls would consider “overprotective”, but in hindsight was him clearly loving them enough to try and shield them from harm. He supported and helped his girls throughout his entire life in numerous ways; through car troubles, multiple moves, home repairs, special building projects, a huge wallpaper project, and generally being an awesome dad & grandpa!

Harvey and Barbara were blessed with 3 grandsons in the space of 16 months; Matthew (Kayla), Tyler, and Joshua; and 9 years later a granddaughter, Hayley. Seven years ago, they doubled their grandchild count when Elaine married Joe Eckert, immediately welcoming Nicole, Derek, Kyle, and Garrett, who married Rachel who then made them great-grandparents twice over when blessed with Garrett, Jr. and Briley.

Spending most of his life in Kitsap County, Harvey was known by many, in all walks of life, for his friendliness, his sense of humor, the many stories he told, and his willingness to help people. He was very social, loved making people laugh, and pulling off surprises. He also enjoyed spending time in the outdoors hunting, hiking, and camping; drinking a good cup of coffee and building a roaring fire. He’s also widely known for his scrumptious potato salad!

Harvey worked doing construction for the majority of his adult life. From remodels to new construction; roof jobs; building numerous decks & fences; constructing mini-storages; adding onto homes; completing numerous specifically dreamed up projects; building sheds; building a playhouse to surprise his granddaughter Hayley for her 3rd birthday; surprising Norma with a piano bench & Elaine with a cedar chest; building coat racks & wooden toolboxes for his grandsons, engraved with their names; and remodeling a shed for Elaine, which Tyler uses as a wood shop, where Harvey helped Tyler last winter with a beautiful bench for a housewarming gift to Joe and Elaine. He was also quick to help with Elaine’s rentals when they needed remodels or repairs. One of his creations is an arbor, which he built for Elaine and Joe’s wedding, which was used last year for his eldest grandson, Matthew’s wedding. Harvey’s last originally designed project is a beautiful cedar chest lovingly built for his granddaughter, Hayley.

Harvey’s wife, Barbara, would like everyone to know that he was an organ donor, and that SightLife let her know earlier this week that his donation of his corneas has been successful in giving sight to two previously blind individuals.

Harvey wanted it shared so that everyone would know that he loved the Lord, and had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior; and he prayed that everyone he knew would come to a saving knowledge of and belief in Jesus.