Rev. Alan Luther Harkey
Rev. Alan L. Harkey, 67, of Simpsonville, husband of his loving wife, Janet Bosse Harkey, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
Born in Sanford, FL, he was the son of the late Rev. Bernard Luther Harkey and Mary Alice Harkey Kronjaeger (Gene).
In addition to his wife, Janet, Rev. Harkey is survived by his sons, Christopher Luther Harkey (Hope), and David Alexander Harkey, all of Greenville; grandchildren, Ella Mae, Henry Luther, Hudson Robert, Christopher Allan, Erin Elizabeth, and Carolina Raine Harkey; one brother, Trey Kronjaeger (Cyndra); four sisters, Sarah Simmons (Harvey), Grace Page (Tim), Beth Anne Hubrecht, and Jeanenne Brugnolotti (Steve); a brother-in-law, Larry Bosse (Joan); a sister-in-law, Donna Guzikowski (Chris); and his stepmother, Sara Ann Harkey.
Rev. Harkey was preceded in death by one grandson, Hosea David Harkey.
Rev. Alan Harkey was well known for his extensive work on behalf of disadvantaged people throughout the world. A former chief of staff to two senators and a congressman from the state of Florida, Rev. Harkey served for 14 years as president and CEO of Christian Blind Mission International USA (CBMI).
During that time he introduced the concept for a worldwide campaign to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020. That campaign, called “Vision 2020-The Right To Sight”, has become an international movement supported by many national governments, the World Health Organization, the Vatican, and more than 30 notable support groups including the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Carter Center, Lions International, and others. Since its launch in 1998, “Vision 2020-The Right To Sight” has made a major impact on reducing blindness world-wide.
Rev. Harkey currently served as Regional Director of Donor Relations for Feed The Children. With 30+ years experience in the non-profit sector as well as his work in the political arena, Rev. Harkey had a unique perspective on the condition of human suffering.
In addition to his work in the non-profit sector Rev. Alan Harkey was an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene pastoring Life Spring Nazarene Church in Duncan, SC, Genesis Church of the Nazarene in Honea Path, SC and most recently Haywood Chapel at Haywood Estates in Greenville, SC.
Alan was also past President and Vice President of Railroad Evangelistic Association. REA is a ministry that his grandfather began in 1938 proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to railroaders around the world and continues to win lost souls for Christ today.
Rev. Harkey shared his extraordinary musical talent with many through the years. His piano renditions of the classics, hymns and original compositions were a hallmark of all who knew him.
Of all his achievements throughout his life, the most important thing was his relationship to his Heavenly Father, his family and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ wherever he went.
The Celebration of Life Service will be held on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Church of Nazarene, 1201 Haywood Rd., Greenville, SC with Rev. Mark Vaughn and Rev. Ray Moore officiating. If unable to attend in person, the service will be available via live stream at https://gfnchurch.online.church
The family will receive friends following the service.
A graveside service will be held at Evergreen Municipal Cemetery, Sanford, FL at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday March 2, 2021.
Memorials may be given to:
- Railroad Evangelistic Association, www.railhopeamerica.com, 255 State Route 49, Cleveland, NY 13042
- Feed The Children, www.feedthechildren.org, 333 North Meridian Ave., Oklahoma City, OK 73107
Dear Janet, my sister in Christ,
How it possible to experience joy and sorrow at the same time? Only those who have been saved by the grace of God will ever have this feeling.
On one hand, our physical bodies grieve for the loss of our loved one. We are experiencing truly raw emotions and that’s because God gave us empathy and the ability to hurt in our loss.
But on the other hand, we were given the greatest of all gifts…salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. And with that salvation comes the absolute knowledge that life doesn’t end at the last heartbeat. Those of us who are left behind can rejoice along with the sorrow, because our loved one has truly gone home. We know there is much celebration, as the angels in Heaven welcome the new one into the family. Alan has arrived at home.
Christy thank you so much! You have always been a dear sister in Christ! You are loved!
My deepest sympathy to you, Janet, Chris and David and your families.
Thank you so much Sharon!
Janet and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Alan spent his life doing God’s work. As with the rest of us, when our work is done, we get to go home. I hope you find some comfort knowing Alan will be at home with our Heavenly Father.
My dear Janet I’m so sorry to hear about Alan. 💕💕🙏🙏
Janet, so sorry for your loss but what a gain for heaven. You and Alan will always have a special place in my heart and Kens . The true love of Christ was shown in all you did and will be remembered.
Janet, Bill and I want to convey our sincere condolences to you and your family. Alan was such a special person and wonderful servant of God. He will be greatly missed by so many lives he’s touched. We know without a doubt he met the father, who said to him, Well done my good and faithful servant. Our prayers for you and your family.
Dear Janet and family,
So sorry to hear of Alan’s passing. We remember wonderful times together in Greenville and Alan’s contribution to CBM’s work. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Blessings
Dave and Cathy McComiskey
Alan Harkey was such a kind , caring man of the Lord. It was such a blessing to meet him and Janet. I will always remember warmly his prayers for me. God has given him healing at Home
Alan was such a joy to get to know! As a colleague at Feed the Children, he always brightened the room with his smile and the inner peace that comes from having the light of Jesus shining through all that you do. Alan will be sorely missed. God bless you.
Janet and family, I have experienced God’s many blessings for a widow whose heart is God’s. I know he will care for you Janet as He did me. Alan was a true treasure for God in your family. May you all be sustained by the assurance of 1 Thes 4:13-18
God bless you
Sandi Duerr
My prayers and condolences to the family. Alan was an important mentor to me early in my career in development. I give him the credit for influencing my choice to work on behalf of nonprofit causes that serve the needs of many and help create the kind of world that we all want to live in. Alan created that better world for everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He did that for me as a mentor and friend. I can only hope to follow his example for the rest of the days that are given to me. Matt 25:21
“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now….Come further up, come further in!”
– C. S. Lewis, The Last Battle
To Mrs. Janet Harkey and the immediate and extended Harkey family.we send our greatest love and condolences.
We join you in this holy celebration of Reverand Alan Harkey’s life as a Man of God and a Brother in Christ and a friend who offered unconditional love and care to everyone he met. He was so special in many, many ways and we echo the comments made by his friends and colleagues–that he was indeed a special person and a wonderful servant of God. Brother Alan will be greatly missed because he positively touched so many lives with hope, love and encouragement.
As a Railway Railroad Evangelist Assoication leader, Brother Alan passionately led the way in innovation and compassion for railway workers and families and espeically their children who he believed would be a geat new generation of Engineers, Conductors and Railway Experts. Brother Alan’s connection to the RailHopeInternational mission was exceptional–he helped establish RailHopeAmerica as part of the world-wide outreach to thousands of railway employees and families. As a former President and Vice President to REA, he helped in editorials and passionately supported for the Railroad Evangelist magazine, ALL ABOARD ! with great energy, honor, history, and holiness, Brother Alan was honored to be a key leader in REA.
We know, without any doubt, that he met his Heavenly Father, and entered into the joy of the Lord, who said to him, “Well done, my good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”
We also know that the Scriptures found in Ephesians 2:10, were very special to Brother Alan–as it is written, “You are created in the Image of God, as His Masterpiece, to do.great things for the Lord, which have already been planned for you.”
Our prayers are for comfort and peace for the Alan Harkey family and the REA family. Praise be to God.
Sarah and I offer our deepest condolences and ask for your prayers as we also undertake an intense medical situation. Seeing the incredible strength and courage of Pastor Brother Alan Harkey and the incredible sustaining strength, love, and the care of the entire Harkey family, at this time of challenge, is indeed awe inspiring and serves as a testiment to the grace of the Lord Jesus and their obedience to the Heavely Father.
Alan Harkey was a special person and did so much to help anyone he could. He will be greatly missed and his family will never forget him and neither will we—because of God’s presence in him. Truly, the Holy Spirit was in Alan Harkey. We offer continued love to Janet and the entire family, and know that you all did everthing possible to keep him here with us—God called him home,
God Bless you all everyday…and ALL ABOARD! .
Donald and Sarah Howell Nokesville Virginia RailHopeAmerica REA Vice President
Rosalee and I are very saddened with the passing of our friend and brother in Christ, Rev. Alan Luther Harkey. As President of the Railroad Evangelistic Association, Brother Alan was always available to me as a reliable source of encouragement, support and wise godly counsel. During this time fo loss we can find consolation in the eternal promises found in the Word of God. All of us at REA and RailHope join together in praying for the Harkey family and friends in asking the Lord that His grace, mercy, love and comfort be sufficient in the days ahead.
David and Rosalee Wiegand, Albuquerque, NM, President Railroad Evangelistic Association
Alan will be fondly remembered by me and the many colleagues he worked with while he was at CBM USA, seeking to help the poorest of the poor around the world.
I pray that God will comfort and console his grieving family and friend and that they will cherish the many wonderful times they had with him. I also pray they will be comforted by the many passages in the Bible that speak of the resurrection and life after death.
Alan was a strong follower of Jesus and will now rest with him.
I look forward to seeing him again, in Heaven.
I’m so glad I was able to be with you and your family today for Alan’s Celebration of Life. It’s unbelievable still. You have a wonderful support family and your sons along with their families will be with you and help. My love, prayers and thoughts are with you ❤ Nancy Oliver
On behalf of Hope and Healing International (formerly cbm Canada) I would like to share our deepest sympathy to you Janet and your family. Our prayers are with you at this difficult time. Many of our team remember Alan from his visits to Canada. This morning we shared the beautiful tribute video with our team. It is our prayer that you feel the light of the Lord bless your family and that God’s healing love and your loving memories of Alan bring you peace. We will always remember how God’s love inspired Alan and called him to serve people who are forgotten and trapped in poverty. His name will forever be linked to the Vision 2020 initiative. So many have had their vision restored and so much blindness prevented. Blessings
Our hearts are broken after hearing about the loss of Alan. He was a true man of God and we learned so much from his teachings when we at the same church.
I just heard, otherwise I would have come to the celebration of life.
Praying for you all!
In Christ,
Leslie and Frank Enos
Dear Janet,
Carmen and I send our condolences to you and your family. We have very fond memories of Alan (and you as well). The years we spent in Greenville were very formative to us – you were great example to us about what a Christian marriage should look like. Alan was a wonderful boss for Brian and he learned many lessons from Alan that continue to serve him well.
We will pray for you.
Brian and Carmen Piecuch