Harvey W. Truitt

Services for Mr. Harvey W. Truitt, 97, of Yukon, Oklahoma will be at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, February 26, 2008 at Hughs Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with Dr. Clyde Cain, officiating. Burial will follow in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery in Canadian, TX under the direction of Hughs Funeral Home of Canadian, Texas. Mr. Truitt passed away Sunday, February 17, 2008 in Yukon, Oklahoma. Harvey was born September 23, 1910 in Ellis County, Oklahoma to Mr. William Truitt and Mrs. Mary Lutz Truitt. At the age of 13 he attended grade school in the Allmon County School. After finishing grade school, he moved to Arnett, OK and found employment where he worked for his room and board and attended high school. After graduating from high school, he took the county examination and obtained a temporary teaching certificate. Harvey was then employed to teach the first three grades at the Allmon County School. He held this position for two years. He then sought employment in Texas. He was employed as head teacher in the Prairie View grade school for two years. Mr. Truitt then became Superintendent for the Lipscomb School District and also coached girls basketball for four years. Each summer he attended college, working toward a degree. In 1941, he received a Bachelor of Science degree from West Texas Teachers College. Harvey was then employed to teach in the Canyon public schools. In December 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. On May 6, 1942 Harvey joined the United States Navy, serving three years, four months and twenty days. Much of this time was spent in the Hawaiian Islands, Siapan, Tinnian and Okinawa. He received an honorable discharge on October 22, 1945. In November of 1945 Harvey was employed by Canadian High School in Canadian, TX, after which he was assigned high school principal for four years. On December 25, 1948 Harvey married Barbara Steele of Canadian. This was the beginning of the happiest years of his life. The two continued teaching for years. In 1950 Harvey received his Master of Education degree from West Texas State College. In 1955, due to a serious car accident, Harvey was advised to resign as President of Clarendon College and Superintendent for a position of lesser responsibility until complete recovery. Harvey and Barbara were then employed by the Amarillo Independent School District. After two years in the classroom, he became principal for twenty years. Harvey was a member of the Texas Retired Teacher Association, a life member of the Texas Congress of Teacher-Parent Association, the American Legion, was a member of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Texas for more than 50 years and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian. Harvey’s students were his lifetime friends. He was one of the most friendly and sociable of men and made friends by the hundreds. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Barbara, who passed away in 1976 and two sisters, six brothers. He is survived by many generations of nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be made to the Presbyterian Home for Children, 3400 South Bowie, Amarillo, TX 79109.