Obituary – Joan Harvey
Joan A. (McHenry) Harvey, daughter of John and Rubye (Colvin) McHenry, was born May 11, 1929, and departed this life on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
Joan was raised on a farm near Allendale, Missouri, alongside her three sisters. She attended the one-room Jackson Country School north of Allendale and later graduated from high school in Grant City, Missouri.
On September 14, 1946, Joan was united in marriage to Donald D. Harvey at the First Christian Church in Troy, Kansas. Two daughters were born to this union, Sue Ann and Kathy Kay. Joan and Don celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on September 14, 1996.
On April 21, 1959, Joan and Don were baptized and became members of the First Baptist Church in Mount Ayr, Iowa, where Rev. Orville Rinehart served as pastor. Joan remained an active member of the church and attended faithfully.
Joan was employed for 36 years at Ringgold County Hospital, a job she truly enjoyed. She especially loved working in the OB department, where she cared for new mothers and babies. Later, she served as a ward clerk at the nurses’ station.
Joan lived in Mount Ayr until October 2018, when she moved to Twin Oaks Assisted Living in O’Fallon, Missouri, to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law. She quickly made new friends and enjoyed the many activities offered there.
Joan had many passions throughout her life. She loved raising beautiful roses, reading, music, and dancing. She also had an impressive doll collection of more than 300 dolls.
Joan loved spending time with friends and was always happy to load them up and take them to dances.
After Don passed away, Joan, Sue Ann, and Kathy began a tradition of taking annual girls’ trips to Branson. For many years, they enjoyed a fun-filled week of shopping, live shows, wonderful restaurants, and, most importantly, time together.
One of the highlights of Joan’s life was a trip to Europe to retrace the places where Don had been stationed during World War II. Her son-in-law, John Herren, drove them throughout Germany and France as they searched for and visited the places that had been part of Don’s wartime experience. Kathy and her grandson Jason also joined them on this memorable journey.
Joan was also very proud of the family business that began in the early 1950s. The Harvey Brothers car dealership became a well-known part of the community, and Joan took great pride in the business and the family legacy it represented.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Harvey; her parents; her in-laws, Raymond and Carlena Harvey; son-in-law Darrell Hall; twin sisters Naomi McHenry and Ruth Trullinger; sisters Bonnie Young and Georgia Brand; and brothers-and sisters-in-law Clyde Trullinger, Charles and Darlene Harvey, Hal and Garland Lein, Harold and Hazel Harvey, Kenneth Harvey, and Paul Brand.
Those left to cherish Joan’s memory include her daughters, Sue Ann Hall of Mount Ayr, Iowa, and Kathy (John) Herren of Lake St. Louis, Missouri; her grandchildren (her pride and joy) Robert Hall of Ozark, Missouri; David Hall of Parsons, Kansas; Jason (Rachel) Herren of Webster Groves, Missouri; and Stephanie (Jeremy) Webster of Columbia, Missouri; her great-grandchildren, Brett and Jake Hall; Ashlynn and Parker Locke; Gabriella, Malena, and Margo Herren; and Lillian and Emma Webster; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends who will miss her dearly.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Visitation will be held at Armstrong Funeral Home on Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 10 am to 11 am with services beginning at 11 am. Joan will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband at Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Her life was filled with love, family, friendship, faith, and many wonderful memories that will be treasured by all who knew and loved her.
