Doyle F. Harkey

NORTHPORT | Doyle F. Harkey, age 82, of Northport, Alabama, died October 31, 2015, at Hospice of West Alabama. Services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at Sunset Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Chris Waddell and Mr. Bobby May officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens Cemetery with Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be Monday, November 2, 2015, from 6 to 8 p.m., at funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Leonard and Vernon Harkey; daughter, Brenda Harkey; grandson, Dayton Harkey; and sister, Iteria Lee.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Bonnie S. Harkey; son, Dennis Harkey (Trish) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; daughters Teresa DeWitt (Terry) of Kennesaw, Ga. and Connie Laminack (Gene) of Hoover, Ala.; seven grandchildren, Connor Harkey, Willis Harkey, Megan DeWitt, Stephen DeWitt, Mary Cason DeWitt, Alex Laminack and John Henry Laminack; brothers, Douglas Harkey (Verna Lynn) of Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Derwood Harkey of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; sisters, Della Wiesen of Amarillo, Texas, Joyce Farmer (Tom) of Tuscaloosa, Ala. and Jane Rogers of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; aunt, Reba Matthews of Jena, La.; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Doyle was a member of Indian Lake Baptist Church of Northport. He was a 32nd degree Shriner and Mason and a member of Rising Virtue Lodge #4 in Tuscaloosa, where he received his Fifty Year pin in 2014. He served two years in the United States Army. Doyle enjoyed the company of people and never met a stranger. It has been said of him that "If you go somewhere with Doyle expect it to take twice as long due to all the friends that will stop and talk to him." After serving 30 years, he retired from New York Life Insurance Company. He also worked for Sunset Funeral Home as a Funeral Director. Doyle did several things during his life as hobbies including fishing, dancing and visiting with friends, but the one he enjoyed most was riding his Gold Wing motorcycle. He met so many friends while riding and he would even drive 250 miles for a slice of pie and a free cup of coffee. Doyle mentored so many in his years riding motorcycles, he was never too busy to share safety tips while encouraging new riders. He and his wife, Bonnie, traveled in 48 states over a period of 22 years. The memories they made traveling through God's Creation was amazing. Pallbearers will be his seven grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are members of Indian Lake Baptist Church and members of Gold Wing Motorcycle Chapter J and the many friends that he made in the insurance business.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to Alzheimer's Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 7th floor, New York, New York, 10001 Shriners Hospitals for Children , 2900 N. Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607; or the Hospice of West Alabama, 3851 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404.