Harvey Wayne Honsey

Dad was a remarkable man. He was born in North Dakota on July 3, 1929. He left home at the age of 12 armed with a 7th grade education, an amazing work ethic, and an uncanny ability to build whatever he needed, fix anything, or generally figure his way through any problem tossed at him. He made his way to Seattle and offered a young lady named Dolores a ride during a snow storm. That ride lasted nearly 60 years. They married at 20, bought a house at 22, had four kids by 26. By the time he was 30 he ran his own auto rebuild business and bought a summer cabin on the beach “so his kids could stay off the streets." Always looking for a challenge he went into mining and the development of natural resources. This took him from California to Alaska where he ended up in heavy construction building roads in remote areas across the state. It seemed as though there wasn't anything he couldn't figure out...how to build floating bunk-houses, remodel a tug boat, punch in a road where most thought it was impossible. He was a force to be reckoned with...never mincing his words or backing away from a fight, he treated people fairly (as long as they knew what they were doing), and through his actions he garnered the respect and admiration of many good people...the rest he really didn't give a damn about. In his lifetime he was a farmer, truck driver, machinist, body & fender man, painter, hunter, fisherman, prospector, driller, powder man, equipment operator, a leader of men, a damn good poker player, die-hard smoker, and proud Papa. Most of all, he was always there for his family to provide good, sound standards to live by, which gave us the ability to meet each day's challenges and to make our own way in life.

A few of his favorite sayings...

"Can't died in the cornfield 40 years ago."

"A fartin' horse never tires...a fartin' man's the one to hire."

“If someone built it…someone can take it apart.”

He left us too soon, but not a minute before he was ready. He will be missed and he will be forever in our hearts.