William Gerald "Gerry" Harvey Sr.

William Gerald "Gerry" Harvey, Sr., 84 OCEANSIDE -- William Gerald "Gerry" Harvey, Sr., died on Monday, September 13, 2010 at Palomar Pomerado Medical Center in Escondido, California, following a long illness. Born June 6, 1926 in Milford, Massachusetts, he attended Melrose High School, Melrose, Massachusetts before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during 1943. He served in the USMC until 1968 and saw combat in the South Pacific during World War II; China during the months following the end of WWII, and in Korea and Vietnam. He retired with the rank of First Sergeant. Following military service, he enjoyed a long career with Mercury Marine and last held a Senior Technical Field Representative title when he retired in 1988. He continued to serve as a Consultant to the marine propulsion industry until the early 1990s when he returned to Oceanside from several years as a resident of Salem, Oregon and Vancouver, Wash. Following the 2001 passing of his beloved wife, Alice, he became very active in the parish at Mission San Luis Rey and served, until his passing, as a Eucharistic minister. In accordance with his long held tenet "to give more than you would ever expect to receive" he was active in several volunteer and charitable concerns including the Knights of Columbus, where he attained the designation of Grand Knight, and the International Order of Alhambra, two fraternal Catholic organizations dedicated to assisting those in need. He also volunteered his time to Tri-City Medical Center and was a 1,000 hour member of their auxiliary staff. Gerry is preceded by his wife, Alice Cecilia (Curtis) Harvey; parents, Mary Eva (Murphy) Harvey and Russell S. Harvey; and brother, John R. Harvey of Wilmington, Mass. He is survived by his brother, Louis C. Harvey of Appleton, Wis.; daughter, Debra Ann Allen and her husband, Dean; sons, William G. Harvey, Jr. and Russell E. Harvey and his wife, Margaret; grandchildren, Victoria M. Hawkins and her husband, Jamie, Vanessa A. Allen, Matthew T. Allen and his wife, Nicole, Russell E. Harvey, Jr., and Louis P. Harvey; great-grandchildren, Chelsea Hawkins, Michael Allen, Jesse Hawkins, Noelan Allen, Kayden Allen and Dominic Catania; loving companion, Millie St. Laurent; and a wealth of family and friends. Mass and Interment will be Friday, October 1, at 1p.m. in the Old Mission at San Luis Rey in Oceanside. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mission San Luis Rey and the American Heart Association. North County Cremation Service in San Marcos is coordinating arrangements. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com