of Little Rock, AR

August 8, 1945 - July 5, 2021

Johnnie Clayton ''Butch'' Harvey, Sr., 75, of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away on the morning of July 5, 2021, after a long battle with diabetes.
Johnnie was born on August 8, 1945, in Little Rock, coming in at a weight of 12 pounds. The nurse said, ''That's a big butch baby,'' and the nickname ''Butch'' stuck. He grew up on 36th and Malloy St in Little Rock and attended Little Rock Tech High School where he graduated in 1964.
Butch married the love of his life, Linda Paula Hall, on November 23, 1968. They were married for 52 years and lived in the same house for the majority of that time, raising their two sons.

Butch loved his family, his church, his Masonic lodge brothers, college football, and organizing family reunions. Butch was an avid bowler for a while but was not an avid hunter. He killed his one and only deer, a 3-point, which his sister-in-law Debbie Phillips mounted. It still hangs on
the living room wall to this day. He worked at a gas station as a teenager. In his early twenties, he was a milkman for Coleman Dairy. He spent the majority of his work life at Orbit Valve. He started there sweeping floors,
became a machine operator and worked his way up to general foreman. Butch left Orbit because he always wanted to own his own business. As a result, he had a three-year stint as a restaurant owner in the mid-1980s, owning, managing, and cooking at Dad's Family Restaurant, a diner located on Lawson Road. He also worked, for a short time, at Little Rock Electric and with USA Truck as a cross-country truck driver. He returned to Orbit (later Cooper Cameron), retiring after 34 years of total service in 2007.

Butch was a lifelong member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church. He survived the tornado of February 22, 1975, that destroyed the church building. His two young sons and five of his nephews and nieces were in the car, when he came up the hill to see the twister right in front of them. There was no time to exit the vehicle, so he quickly pulled into the church parking lot and made all the kids get on the floorboard. Even though all the side windows were blown out of the car and a tree limb pierced the windshield, only one niece was slightly injured.

As a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church, Butch was President of the Senior Citizens group and served in that capacity for several years. He was a dedicated Mason for 47 years. He started his membership at Westwood Lodge, moving to Mary Williams Lodge, and ending at Adoniram Masonic Lodge and served as Worshipful Master at both Westwood and Adoniram.
He attended weekly meetings at numerous lodges, volunteered for many activities, and made life-long friendships. He was also a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents Johnnie ''Red'' Lytle and Lucille (Riggin) Harvey and brothers Loyd Leon and Robert ''Bob'' Harvey. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and two sons Johnnie ''John'' Clayton Harvey, Jr. (Jana) of Winslow, AR., and Joseph ''Joe'' W. Harvey (Andrea) of Bryant, AR; four grandchildren Faith Cyman (Chris) of Amarillo, TX, Cassandra Harvey of Little Rock, Johnnie ''Clay'' Clayton Harvey, III (Ravyn) of Hartford, AR, and Maryn Harvey of Bryant; and seven great-grandchildren Jeweliana, Riley, Alivia, AJ (Junior), Rayden, Emma, and
Cataleya; siblings Clarence Edward ''Eddie'' Harvey (Norma) of Little Rock, Edna ''Cookie'' Shepard of Little Rock, Charles Ray Harvey of Leslie, AR, and sister-in-law Elizabeth ''Liz'' A. Harvey of Little Rock.

The family would like to thank the Adoniram Masonic Lodge #288, Crystal Hill Baptist Church, Colonel Glenn Health and Rehab, Hospice Home Care, and the many doctors and nurses who helped take care of him through the years.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 9 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Roller Drummond Funeral Home at 10900 I-30 in Little Rock. Funeral will be held Saturday, July 10 at 11:00 a.m. at Crystal Hill Baptist Church at 18823 Crystal Valley Rd in Little Rock, with Pastor Daniel Cargill officiating, followed by graveside service with Masonic funeral honors across the street at the cemetery. Pallbearers are nephews Andy Shepard, Paul Harvey, Rob Harvey, Trevor Harvey, Shane Phillips, and Wade Harvey.
Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/drummond

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