Jean Harkey
March 12, 1942 ~ June 6, 2016
Resided in:
Weaverville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Jean M. Harkey, 74, of Weaverville, passed away on Monday, June 6, 2016, at the CarePartners Solace Center, Asheville.
She was a daughter of the late Mary Lois Brown and S. Drane Harkey. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Robert D. Harkey.
Jean was born in Charlotte, NC, and graduated from South Mecklenburg High School, Erskine College and Duke University with a certificate in physical therapy.
She moved to Asheville in the mid-60s, and in 1971 opened Jean M. Harkey and Associates. She was the first woman in Asheville to open a private practice in physical therapy.
She is survived by her wife, Janie Holcombe, of Weaverville; niece, Susan Simpson (George), and nephew, Tyler Haney, both of Mint Hill, NC. She was blessed to have the support of many friends during her illness.
Services led by Cindy Bovee-Kemper will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Christ, 20 Oak St., Asheville. Her family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.
Graveside services will be held on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Sardis Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 6100 Sardis Road, Charlotte, NC.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave., Asheville, NC 28801, to Manna FoodBank 627 Swannanoa River Rd., Asheville, NC 28805, or to a charity of one's choice.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.
We were so sorry to learn of Jean’s death. She was such a special person. She had such a zest for life. Our thoughts go out to Jane.
We are making a donation in her honor and memory to Manna FoodBank
We have been blessed to have known you both and cherish the time we spent with you at your lovely mountain home. Janie, you will be lifted up in our thoughts and prayers.
Jean, you will be greatly missed! What a beautiful and caring spirit that she possessed! I am a better person for knowing her. May the memory of your sweet spirit bring comfort and warmth to Janie. Love you both!
Gentle Jean, always a pleasure to be with you. We shall miss your kind, caring companionship.
Pat and Sylvia
Janie,We were saddened to hear about Jean .She was a special person .We will miss her greatly .
Love to you,
C.A. and Sally
Janie, I am so sorry for your loss. You and Jean had a very close relationship from what I could tell. thank you for helping her out these last harder years for Jean.
Dear Janie I’m so sorry for you. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you. That was a nice writeup and picture.take care. Millie Griffin
How lucky were we that Jean started a conversation on our river cruise two years ago? Since then we have had the opportunity to meet up again and get to know some very special people from North Carolina. Janie, our thoughts are with you and we hope the memories you’ve created together and the love and support from the friends around you help you through this difficult time.
Lots of love from your mates down under, Robyn and Pat.
Jean was a best friend, constant and true. Our lives have truly been enriched by this very special person and she will live in our hearts forever. Janie, we share the sorrow that you feel; whatever help and comfort friendship can be now, it’s yours today with our loving thoughts and deepest sympathy.
We are so sorry to hear of Jean’s passing and your loss Janie. I knew Jean and her family since childhood and Susan and I have always enjoyed getting together with the two of you here in Buncombe county. She was always a lot of fun and we will miss her too.
Janie, we were so sorry to hear of Jean’s passing. She was such a special person to Ed as they were growing up. May the love you shared and the memories you possess get you through the rough times.
All our love to you!
Pam and Ed Tucker
One of the joys of retiring and moving to this area has been getting re-acquainted with Jean and getting to know Janie. Having known Jean since elementary school makes me feel as if i have lost a close family member. How lucky it has been to enjoy the fellowship of Jean and Janie and their wide circle of wonderful friends. My life is richer.
The world was a better place because of Jean’s presence in it. The loss of her physical being is one of the saddest things I have felt in a long time. I know, however, that her beautiful spirit is soaring into realms that we can only imagine. The memory of her will be a solace to those of us who loved her. I know that she still knows the love we felt for her will never die. She lives on in many ways and we will know her presence in the most precious ways. In the meantime my love and compassion is with her partner in life, Janie.
Jean was a special person and will be missed. Janiie our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I did not know Jean well, but did experience her sincere kindness and thoughtfulness. She had a delightful smile and an inclusive personality. She will be missed by many. My warmest thoughts are with her much loved Janie.
I’ll always remember Jean’s bright eyes and kind smile. I’m so glad she and Jane got to experience the Houston Rodeo with our (and their) dear friends Pat and Katie. Sending prayers to be with her soul as it continues its journey.
Janie, my heart goes out to you. Jean was a lovely soul who will be missed by many.
Every once in awhile you meet people that you feel somehow as if you’ve known forever. When we met Jean and Janie, though we were fresh to North Carolina from California, it was like that. Both women just invited us into their lives, and their world, as if we weren’t strangers at all, but family. And that family feeling will never change. Though Jean may not actually be sitting down at the table with us, I know she’s still there, and when we laugh with Janie … I just know Jean will be laughing with us.
Janie..Another star has entered the heavens to shine down upon us. Peace and blessing to you and Jean’s family. Have been trying to locate you all these years.