Harvey Ellsworth Crist

September 2, 2024

Harvey Ellsworth Crist, 97, passed away Saturday, August 31, 2024, at his home in Syracuse, Kansas. He was born August 4, 1927 in Holly, Colorado, the son of Paul F. Crist and Margaret (Herbig) Crist.

Harvey began his life in Holly, Colorado and was raised in Bear Creek Township on the family farm, which is on the Kansas/Colorado state line 10 miles south of Coolidge, Kansas. His “growing up” years were during the time of the dust bowl and the Great Depression. He believed that those were character building times for many people. Particularly seeing how his parents and other pioneers of that era handled tough times and adversity.

Harvey’s first 6 years of school were in the Sunnyvale Country School. In 1938 Sunnyvale was consolidated into the Coolidge Consolidated District where he attended Coolidge High School and graduated in 1944. After graduation he served in the United States Air Force. After completing his military service he attended Wichita State University and graduated in 1953.

Harvey then moved to California where he worked for Accounting and Engineering firms and Residential Development firms. He was also a licensed General Building Contractor. Here he gained a love of designing and building homes which he did for a large part of his life. While in the Air Force, he developed a love of flying and flew across every state in the United States. He actually did build his own airplane. During his quiet time he enjoyed anything related to history and was a crossword puzzle whiz. 

Harvey traveled a lot and lived in five different states, Kansas, Colorado, Nevada, California and Alaska. In choosing a place to retire, he “scouted” Nevada, Idaho and Utah. In 2008 he decided to move back home to Hamilton County, to live in Syracuse and resided there until his passing. He was a member of the Southern Baptist Church, Syracuse VFW, and the Historical Society. 

Through the years Harvey was married three times but lost all three marriages to cancer. His last marriage was to Bessie Kerns Reitz, from Holly, Colorado. 

He is survived by his stepchildren, Phyllis Cameron of Los Osos, California; Ron (Muriel) Reitz of Holly, Colorado; cousin, Dick (Vicky) Helfrich of Coolidge, Kansas; brother-in-law, JD Rice of Holly, Colorado; sister-in-law Evelyn Drew of Syracuse, Kansas; several nieces and nephews; and Kay Dennis, who was Harvey’s long time caregiver. 

He was preceded in death by his three wives; his parents; brothers, Tom, Dale, and Gary; sisters, Florence and Margaret Ayers; stepmother, Stella Crist; step-sister, Naomi Rice; step-brother, Robert Drew.
Graveside Services will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM (MDT) at the Syracuse Cemetery in Syracuse, KS.  

Memorial contributions may be payable to the Southern Baptist Church and may be sent in care of Fellers Funeral Home LLC, PO Box 1253, Syracuse, KS 67878. 620-384-5100.