Darryl Gene Harvey

Darryl Gene Harvey, of Crestwood, KY, passed peacefully on September 25th, 2025 at the age of 85.  

He was born on September 2, 1940, in Sparksville, KY to Edwin Harvey and Mable Akin Harvey, moving shortly thereafter to a house on Market Street in Louisville.  He graduated in the class of 1958 at DuPont Manual High School, then attended the University of Louisville, where he received his Bachelor's of Science Degree in Chemistry. After college, he enlisted and served in the Army Reserves from 1963-1969 as a combat medic, though his unit was never called to service in Vietnam. 

When he was ready to join the workforce, Darryl was employed by Indiana Glass Sand in Elizabeth, IN for a short time before getting a job with Harshaw Chemical (later named Engelhard Corp. and then BASF), where he retired after 35 years as a Chemist working in the process of making dyes for paints and other products.  In fact, he loved Chemistry so much that he could still recite the periodic table of elements in order way up into the Lanthanide Series.

Darryl was a man of faith and a member of the Middletown Christian Church and Pathfinders Sunday School class.  He loved playing recreational baseball in his youth, and was a lifelong fan of the sport. Most of his free time was spent working around the four acres of land and house in Crestwood - lawn, growing roses and vegetables, and home improvement projects indoors. When he could find a chance, he loved to go fishing.

He was most famous among friends for making Hickory Nut Brittle from the hickory nuts dropped from the large tree next to the house. He did the majority of the holiday baking and candy making each year. Puns and dad jokes were his love language, and he'd collect anything from pocket knives to stamps to old tools.  

Darryl Harvey is survived by his wife of almost 57 years, Rilda Morgan Harvey, daughter Amanda McWane, son Andrew Morgan Harvey (Jonathan Shepherd), and granddaughters Madeline and Morgan McWane. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by both of his younger brothers, Roger Blair Harvey and Gregory Alan Harvey, son Aaron Matthew Harvey, and son-in-law Mark McWane.

Funeral service will be held at Stoess Funeral Home in Crestwood, KY on Monday, September 29th.  Visitation is from 11:00-2:00 with the funeral thereafter at 2:00.  Procession to Floydsburg Cemetery will follow with a brief graveside service.  

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