Jeanne Bradley Harvey

Jeanne Bradley Harvey Jeanne Bradley Harvey, age 81, of Austin, Texas died on January 5th, 2004 at Seton hospital in Austin. Jeanne was born on January 31st, 1922 in Centerville, Iowa, to William Stubbs Bradley and Evelyn Abney Bradley of Centerville. At the time she was born her father was prominent in the banking business with interests in Iowa and Missouri. While still young, she moved with her family to Dallas, Texas. Jeanne was a born performer, a “people person”, and made her first stage appearance at age 12 singing a duet of “Walking with Susie” with her sister Bettine. Even at such a young age, Jeanne had a warmth and charisma that captured an audience quickly. As a young person at school in Dallas, she was seen in operettas and operas staged by Dallas amateur productions. Her beauty and extraordinary voice quality, and a range that was lyric soprano to almost contralto moved her audiences. The audience for the Madam Butterfly production, in particular, was moved to tears by her performance. After graduating from the Hockaday School in Dallas, and the St. Elizabeth finishing school, she won her private pilot’s license in 1941, and went to work, together with her sister, for the war effort by becoming a small parts inspector at the Solar Aircraft Company in Des Moines, Iowa. Following WW II she moved to Washington, DC where she became the star of her own variety Television program on NBC when television was first beginning to emerge in this country. Her program aired on WNBW TV and featured musical, interview, and variety programming. She also was an initial contributor to the development of programming for color TV when it was first introduced on that same Washington, DC station. She performed as well singing on many occasions with the Army/Navy band in Washington. In 1950 Jeanne married William W. Harvey Jr. (“Bill”), then serving as a Lt. Colonel in the US Army, and they began a fabulous career together in the military attache’ service. Her husband’s assignments took them to some exotic parts of the world including Portugal, Indonesia, and Brazil. Because of her natural “ear” for music, she found she was able to pick up languages easily, and in Portugal became so adept at the national folk tune, the Fado, that she gained recognition at the National level, often singing in public venues, and for diplomatic functions. Because her name was Jeanne, the Portuguese newspapers dubbed her “Joaninha”, which means “ladybug” in Portuguese. Even today among the Fado musicians of her time she is still remembered as “The American”. In 1970 Jeanne and Bill Harvey retired to Austin, Texas, where they started the “Frame Factory”, the second “do-it-yourself” picture framing shop in the United States. In her later years Jeanne served as a volunteer worker for “The Next to New Shop” of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Austin. Jeanne Bradley Harvey is survived by her sister Bettine, now living in Claremore, OK, her son and daughter-in-law Frederick and Susan Harvey living in Austin, her granddaughter Lisa whose promotion to Major in the Army she recently attended in Atlanta where Lisa lives with her husband John Smith (LTC USA ret.), and by her grandson James Harvey, who lives in Chicago working in the advertising business. In addition, Jeanne is survived by her brothers-in-law Jack Harvey, Donald Harvey, and James (“Jerry”) Harvey. Jeanne had a beauty of spirit, and a love of family, and gave it freely. She was the sweetest sister and the most loving mother and grandmother anyone could wish for. She was always “there when needed”, and the world is dimmer today for family and friends with her passing. The family will gather in the spring time in Washington DC for a burial ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery, where Jeanne will be laid to rest with her husband Bill, at the conclusion of a very successful, and adventure filled life. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts of America, or your favorite charity. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512) 452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com