Making Connections: Eric & Millie Harvey Tragedy

Claresholm Local Press - Thursday - December 7, 1950 - pg 3

Double Tragedy In Claresholm; Elderly Couple Asphyxiated

Mr. and Mrs. Eric Harvey, an elderly Claresholm couple, were found dead in their bed about 2:30 pm, Thursday, December 7, from asphyxiation. Monoxide fumes, caused apparently by a blockade in the chimney, sent fumes into the house

The Tragedy was discovered when a friend, Mrs E. Messerli, called at the Havey home for a scheduled W.M.S. meeting of the Pentecostal Church.

It is believed the couple had been dead for about 24 hours when found. Gas company officials on examining the chimney, discovered the opening blocked and took out a good size water pail of sand. This material completely blocked the opening, causing the fumes to enter the house.

An inquest into the double tragedy was held Thursday night in the funeral parlors of G.W. Ringrose, with coroner A.W. Kennedy in charge. Members of the Jury were Joe Spankle, Jack Gray, John Marsh, Everett Arnestad, Eric Charlton and Sheldon Weatherhead.

Funeral services will be announced later.

Mr. Harvey came from Lakefield Ontario, where members of his family still reside. Mrs. Harvey was a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Benson of Claresholm. They had two children: a son, Charles, resides on a farm near Claresholm; and a daughter, Mrs Anna MacDonald lives in Lethbridge.

Mrs. Harvey's sister, Miss Annetta Benson, a teacher on the Claresholm staff, was admitted to the Claresholm hospital Wednesday as the result of a fall on ice coated sidewalk on Claresholm's Main Street. She sustained a fractured hip.

Claresholm Local Press - Thursday - December 14, 1950 - pg 7

RESIDENTS PAY LAST RESPECTS TO CLARESHOLM OLDTIMERS

Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Eric Harvey, who met tragic deaths last Wednesday, December 6th were held in the United Church, Claresholm, Monday December 11th. Rev. John Peel of the Pentecostal Church Officiated assisted by Rev. Gordon Allen of Lethbridge. During the service which was attended by many friends of the couple, Mrs. Allen sang "The Last Mile of the Way". Mr. Harvey was born in Burleigh Falls, Ontario, on August 14th, 1890 and came to Claresholm in 1910. Mrs. Harvey was born in Carie, North Dakota, January 27th, 1890 and came to Claresholm in 1902. The couple were married on December 23, 1914.

Since coming to the Claresholm district the Harvey resided on their farm north of Claresholm until 1947 when they moved into town. The son, Charles then took over the operation of the farm.

Surviving are two sisters of Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Cora Best of Claresholm, Miss Anetta Benson of Claresholm and two brothers, Albert and Bert Benson, also of Claresholm.

Mr. Harvey is survived by five brothers, Ernie, Bernal, Vivian, all of Lakefield, Ontario; William of Cleveland, Ohio, and Geoffrey of Strasbourg, Saskatchewan; also two children, Anne MacDonald, of Lethbridge, and Charles of Claresholm, and two grandsons, Jamie and Charles. Pallbearers were Stanley Wyatt, Chas. Strangways, Frank Isaac, Cort Etherington, J. Finlay, W. Sinclair. J. Amundsen and H. Taitinger. Interment was in the Claresholm cemetery.