Harvey Lee Rister

Harvey Lee Rister was born 10/2/1941 in Jones Co., Texas to Wesley David Rister and Susie Mary Hickman Rister. He died 1/2/2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 83 from surgical complications, pneumonia and heart problems. Harvey graduated from Anson Texas High in 1959 and was on the football team.
Harvey and five friends enlisted in the Army Airborne 82nd division and went to basic training in Fort Bragg N.C. in 1959 and then stationed in South Korea. When his tour of duty ended, the Army extended it for several months because of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
After service he graduated from college in San Diego, California and went on to be a corporate pilot for many private companies and individuals flying all over the US and internationally. Harvey married Mim Joycen and they had a son Kirk David Rister in 1968.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1981, his brother Jerry in 2012, his mother in 2017, his son in 2019 and his wife Katherine Edington in 2022. Survived by 4 sisters Peggy Colosimo, Betty Carter, Patsy Long, Suzy Richards Rister, 1 brother David Rister, 5 grandchildren Candice, Brooklyn and Ryan Rister, Sophia and Carter Edington and his stepson Thomas Edington and wife Angie of Phoenix AZ.
In his youth Harvey and brother Jerry fished frequently, earning his nickname "Hook" because he always had fish hooks in his pockets. Harvey spent a year in the mid 80's with his wife Sheila in Australia exploring the country. In the mid 90's Harvey was flying for Peabody Mining in Flagstaff AZ, residing there with then wife Arleta, noticed all the elk in the hunt area south of town when taking off from the airport. He enjoyed two successful hunts there in 1995-1996 with his brothers David and Jerry and Betty's husband Steve from Texas. In 1999 Harvey met Katherine Edington when residing in Phoenix AZ. They were instantly inseparable and in love. They married in September of that year and enjoyed each other for 22 years until her death in 2021. During that time they shared an exciting and interesting life together. Harvey was an honest and caring man that demonstrated integrity and unconditional love and support for his family and friends.