Colleen Sue Harvey

1955 - 2025

Colleen Sue Harvey

October 22, 1955 - September 9, 2025

Kennewick, Washington - Colleen Sue Harvey, age 69, passed away in Kennewick, Washington, on September 9, 2025. Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1955, she was the youngest of three children born to William Emerson Stoker and Doris Jean Smith. Throughout her life, Colleen maintained a close bond with her brother, Karol William Stoker, and sister, Jeannine Lea Belson. Her sister, Jeannine, preceded her in death in March 2025. She is survived by her husband, Scott Douglas Harvey; and brother, Karol.

Colleen resided in several locations during her lifetime. Following a brief period in Evanston, Illinois, she returned to Colorado, residing in Salida during her junior high years, and subsequently in Eagle before graduating from high school in Castle Rock in 1973. An advocate for lifelong learning, she pursued studies in languages throughout her life. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in French with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1977. Her academic pursuits also included coursework in Spanish, Italian and linguistics. During the summer following her freshman year, Colleen was introduced to her future husband, Scott Harvey, while both worked for a large apartment complex. Following matchmaking efforts by her mother, Doris, the two started dating the fall of 1974. Upon college graduation, Colleen commenced her professional career in the hospitality sector in Denver. In 1985, she married her long-term boyfriend, Scott, and relocated to Bloomington, Indiana, while he completed his graduate studies. The couple subsequently settled in the Richland, Washington, area where they remained throughout Colleen's life. She continued her linguistic pursuits through continuing education courses in Spanish and active participation in a weekly language study group, fostering numerous close friendships.

Colleen's professional career primarily included various roles in the hotel catering and customer service industries. In Richland, she served as Director of Catering at the Best Western Tower Inn until spring 2000. Seeking more regular hours, she then worked for Lamb Weston/ConAgra customer service for 14 years before retiring in 2014.

Colleen had a deep compassion for animals and a love for all creatures. She cherished her horse, Kitty Cat, which she owned in Castle Rock. An accomplished horsewoman, she had a reputation for having traffic on Interstate 25 pull over to take photos of her racing the wind on the bluff above the highway on her beloved "Cat." However, her most enduring affection was reserved for Cocoa and Jaco, two African Grey parrots, which she and her husband adopted while living in Bloomington. Their captivating personalities and remarkable intelligence fostered a close bond over their four-decade long lives; they truly were family to her.

Beyond her love for animals, Colleen enjoyed a variety of interests. She cultivated an extensive orchid collection that contained many fragrant varieties. She also liked to ride her bicycle on the scenic paths that run adjacent to the Columbia River. Many warm memories of her days in Boulder and Bloomington, as well as the numerous activities during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons with her husband, remained close to her heart. Colleen will be remembered as a loving wife, sister, and friend, celebrated for her intelligence, equanimity, and unwavering resilience in the face of hardship. She will be deeply missed.

The family gratefully requests that remembrances and condolences be shared on her memorial page hosted by Einan's at Hillcrest website www.hillcrestfunerals.com; these expressions of sympathy will be deeply appreciated.