Harvey Sipe

Harvey Lee Edward Sipe, alive on this Earth for 31,454 days, made every one of those days special to the people who loved him. (October 30, 1928 - December 12, 2014) He was a kind and generous man with a quick smile and the most brilliant blue eyes that sparkled with mischief, making you wonder exactly what he’d been up to. His hugs were legendary, as were his handshakes. Ask anybody!

Harvey was one of 10 children, son of Vance and Mary Lail Sipe, brother to Oren (O.E.), Earl, Avery, Richard, Clora Cline, Rhetta Hedrick, Vela Eckard, Pauline Huffman, and Floy Prestwood.

He was the beloved husband of first wife, Ruby Hedrick who died in 1954, and 2nd wife, the love of his life, Ann Elliott Thrift Sipe to whom he was married 59 years, 11 months and 10 days.

Harvey had four children, Rickey Sipe of Lewisville, NC, Michael Sipe of Dexter, Michigan, Terry Thrift and Jill Sipe of Conover. By example he taught his children the importance of hard work, dedication to detail, the power of honesty and kindness in everything, and that promises were made to be kept. He did the best he could for his children, especially in the way he loved their mother.

Harvey was so proud of his 10 grandchildren, including Heather Blanton, Cheryl Hamby, Alicia Eller, Kristen Killian, John and Anna Sipe, Dera and Justin Sipe, Rachael and Rebekah Allman, and his eleven great-grandchildren, Tori and Tate Blanton, Tyrzah, Mazzylyn, and Zoey Hamby, Nick and Kyle Eller, Koen and Landon Killian, and Evan and Maia Buckland.

Harvey and his brother, Richard, were in business together for 50 years running R&H Sipe Construction Company. Harvey took pride in being a fair and honest businessman, a friend to his workers, and an artist in his brick work.

Harvey worked hard and played hard. As a young man, he and his wife, Ann, enjoyed water skiing with friends on Lake Hickory, doing all kinds of stunts and trick skiing, slalom courses and making pyramids. He was active in bowling leagues throughout his life, and was pretty good at it. He tried his hand at golf for a while and was occasionally mistaken for Jack Nicklaus, but not because of his golfing! He would smile and accept requests for autographs.

Gardening, especially growing banana trees, was a passion he sometimes went overboard with. One time, after finally getting some blooms on his banana trees, he built a greenhouse around the trees so that he could let the bloom produce fruit. The bananas were tasty!

A hopeless romantic, he took ballroom dancing lessons with his wife, Ann. On the weekends especially, if you drove by the house, you could see their silhouettes through the front window as they waltzed, danced the fox trot, or rumbaed. Later their interests migrated to square dancing, something he especially enjoyed as they visited the various square dance clubs.

Harvey was a lifetime member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Conover. His grandfather was one of the original 13 founding members of the church. Harvey served as a member of the church council and the board of trustees.

The family will receive visitors on Monday, December 15, 2014 from 3:00 - 3:45 in the Fellowship Hall at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Conover. The memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM in the sanctuary. There will be a private burial at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Mt. Zion Lutheran Church Organ/Music Fund or to the Catawba Regional Hospice.