In one of two handwritten notes left for her family, Lucy Harkey explained her formula for happiness, saying, “I believe you have to be in love with life.” She lived with that spirit. Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life and legacy of love. Lucy Love Wallace Harkey, 92, of Brownwood, died Sunday, August 18, 2024, in Brownwood.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 24, at First Methodist Church, 2500 11th Street, Brownwood, with the Reverend Dr. Jay Fraze of Coriscana, former pastor, officiating. A reception and lunch will follow at the church. A graveside service and burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gooch Cemetery in Mason. Afterward, the family will host a reception at the Harkey Family Ranch at Katemcy. Heartland Funeral Home of Early is handling arrangements.
Among her survivors are her husband, John D. Harkey of Brownwood; son, John D. Harkey Jr. and Peni Barfield of Dallas; and grandchildren, Meredith Leigh Sheth and spouse Hardik, and Morgan K. Weaver, all of Austin. Lucy took pride that both grandchildren followed her by pledging Delta Gamma at the University of Texas. Other survivors include sister-in-law, Mrs. Grayce Hicks (the late Dewitt Hicks) of Columbus, Mississippi, and their three children, Dewitt Hicks III of Dallas, Vickie Hardy (Kirk) and Gracie Hicks, all of Columbus, Mississippi; and sister-in-law Mrs. Sammie Stevenson (John) of Austin, and their two children, Mrs. Paige Harkey Hart (Andy) of Austin and John Stevenson Jr. of Llano.
Memories shared by loved ones illustrate how Lucy modeled her formula for happiness in every aspect of her life.
“She contributed extraordinarily to her family and community,” her son John said. “She was a truly devoted Christian who instilled morals, values, and a strong work ethic in her family. She cherished all her family time. She was fortunate to travel the world while partnering with Dad to build their business.” Nelson Wholesale and Ag-Mart employ several hundred people and distribute farm, animal supplies and pet products throughout the Southwest.
He said his mother “absolutely loved pets and all sorts of animals, especially Schnauzers, Pugs, and Boxers. We grew up with so many pets. It was wonderful.”
One of his childhood memories involves his desire to be a Cub Scout after the family moved to Brownwood in the summer of 1968, but no Cub Scout pack existed in Brownwood. So, his mother organized one for the community, setting her son on a path that led to his becoming an Eagle Scout. John said the fact that he and his mother are both only children strengthen their bond.
It’s also an example of Lucy’s hands-on involvement with volunteer work in numerous local organizations, specifically the Brownwood Hospital Auxiliary of which she was a charter member. She was active in the Auxiliary for more than 50 years and held many officer positions. She was also a charter member of the Brownwood Woman’s Club, serving in several offices, and was a past president of the Garden Culture Club. She was a long-time member of First Methodist Church in Brownwood.
It was Lucy’s role with family that Peni Barfield knew best.
“She loved to spend time with family,” Peni said, and they often gathered at the ranch. “Family was what was important. The more family, the more she enjoyed it. She was incredibly gracious. Everyone felt very welcomed.”
“She was incredibly well read,” Peni added. “She read the newspaper every day. She was our own clipping service. She would send clippings along with personal notations. She was amazingly unique, the smartest woman I know. She had an in-depth intelligence and could have conversations on any topic. We really could see her beauty shine through.”
Lucy was born April 26, 1932, in Jackson, Mississippi, to Lena Wasson Wallace and George Harvey Wallace. She grew up in Kosciusko, Mississippi, and graduated as salutatorian from Kosciusko High School, where she was Miss KHS, editor of the school newspaper, a Class Beauty, and Class Favorite. In 1954, she received a degree from the University of Mississippi, “Ole Miss,” where she was a Campus Beauty, Campus Favorite, in the Committee of 100, Rose of Delta Sigma Phi, and member of Delta Gamma in the chapter where the national organization was founded. She was named Miss Hospitality in the statewide Mississippi Gulf Coast contest.
As flight attendant for Delta Airlines from 1954 to 1959, she was chosen first alternate for Delta in the national Miss Skyway Contest in New York City in 1956.
She and John D. Harkey of Mason were married on May 4, 1959, at Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas. They lived in Mason, in Arkansas, in New Jersey, and in Dallas. Their son, John, was born in September 1960.
In one of her letters left for her family, Lucy expounded on her life’s philosophy by quoting an unknown author who wrote, “I shall be happy until the day I die.” The process, she explained, involved taking morning walks, breathing deeply, and believing in God. “I surround myself with young people who are alive and doing interesting things. I travel… and accept any invitation that sounds interesting.”
After saying beauty is always around us, she observed, “Sometimes you have to work hard on happiness. If you try hard enough to love and be happy, it happens.”
A second letter offered biographical details plus suggestions for hymns to be sung at her funeral service, plus a Bible verse to use: “This is day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.” She wrote she had “enjoyed family, friends, travels, clubs, church, and hospital volunteer work. It’s been a good life, thanks be to God.”
A final page, a letter addressed to her son and husband, lists where letters her Grandmother Wallace wrote are stored, along with places she kept gifts they had given her and other sentimental treasures.
“Remember our happy times together,” she concluded. “See you in Heaven.”
Lucy had asked that those who desire can make memorials to First Methodist Church of Brownwood, the Brown County Humane Society (dba Corinne T. Smith Animal Center), or a charity of their choice.
