MANCHESTER – William “Bill” Kendall Harvey, 85, of Manchester, and the long-time proprietor of Harvey’s Hardware in Gardiner, passed away peacefully on Sept. 28, 2021, at Maine General Hospital in Augusta. He fought a long and courageous battle with various illnesses over the past few years.

Bill was born in Gardiner in 1936, the first child of Helen and Earle Harvey and attended Gardiner schools. In high school, he played baseball, basketball, and football at the varsity level, graduating in 1954. He then attended the University of Maine at Orono, where he was active with his fraternity Kappa Sigma, serving as president and treasurer. He graduated in 1958 and served in the U.S. Army, where he became a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Bill worked in the hardware and automotive parts business started by his father in 1925. Bill purchased the business in 1967, refocusing it on hardware and expanding the operations to include locations in Fairfield and Farmington. Throughout his many years as a local business leader, he continued to maintain the relationships fostered in high school and college, serving as his high school class reunion organizer for over 60 years and remaining close with many of his college fraternity brothers. He also supported numerous businesses and civic activities, including serving as president of the Gardiner Rotary Club, a vice president and director of the National Bank of Gardiner, director of the YMCA and a member of the Augusta Country Club. He became an example to other entrepreneurs by buying and rehabilitating buildings to lease to small businesses.

Throughout his life, Bill did things his own way, often working seven days a week as he loved being available to his customers, particularly during harsh Maine winters when people were often in need. He was also a loyal and generous friend and in his personal life he was a good and loving husband and father. Recently the mayor of Gardiner and council proclaimed his birthday, August 19 as “Bill Harvey Day”.

Bill is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara Harvey of Manchester; son, Mark Harvey and his wife Linda of Evanston, Ill., grandchildren Anna Harvey of Washington, D.C. and Ethan Harvey of Evanston, Ill.; son, Eric Rollins and his wife Julie of Biddeford, daughter Margot Karlberg and her husband Scott of Hampton, N.H.; sister, Lora Martino of Newton, Mass. and her son Christopher, his wife Heather and their two children of Concord, Mass. Additional survivors include grandchildren Emily, Adam, Alexis, Leah, Ellen and Warren; and a great-grandson; as well as nephews, nieces, and cousins.

He was preceded in passing by his parents Earle and Helen Harvey; his brother, Edwin “Ned” S. Harvey and his daughter Sarah Helen Harvey.

A funeral service and celebration of Bill’s life will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 5, at 11:30 a.m. at Highland Avenue United Methodist Church, in Gardiner. A private family committal service will follow in the family plot at the Oak Grove Cemetery, in Gardiner.

Arrangements are entrusted with Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the Staples Funeral Home website: http://www.familyfirstfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at http://www.alz.org

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