Irene Harville Obituary

Irene Spivey Harville

August 20, 1920 -

November 24, 2024

Irene Spivey Harville, 104, passed away peacefully on November 24, 2024, with her family by her side.

She was born in Coeburn, Virginia on August 20, 1920.

Irene was preceded in death by her husband, Jay E. Harville; father, Patrick Hagan Spivey, Sr.; mother, Myrtle Osborne Spivey; brothers, Carl Spivey, Jack Spivey, P.H. Spivey, Jr.; sister, Nina Spivey Ford; and her nephew, Donald Spivey.

She is survived by her son, Stephen E. Harville and daughter in law, Cynthia Harville; her grandchildren, Joshua Harville (Jennifer Harville), Jordan Harville, Jaron Harville (Victoria Harville), Alyssa Harville, and Katie Mullins; her great grandchildren, Conor Harville, Mila Harville, Myles Harville, and Isabella Harville; nephews, Richard Spivey, Patrick (Mickey) Spivey, and Harold Ford; niece, Terri Lynn Spivey; and several great nephews, and great nieces.

Irene was the matriarch of the Spivey and Harville families. She was the best wife, mother, sister, aunt, and mentor possible. At age seven, she was the oldest of the children when her mother passed away. She took care of her siblings, until putting herself through college at ETSU, where she met her husband, Jay. They moved to Kingsport where she began her career as a fifth-grade teacher. In 1952, she started the Kingsport Development Insurance Co. for Congressman James Quillen. She became one of the first women insurance executives in the state of Tennessee. Her determination, drive, and expertise led Kingsport Development Insurance to be one of the top insurance agencies in the state, during a time when women executives were not recognized. She was a true pioneer in her field. She remained in her position until retiring at age 96.

Irene grew up with so many fond memories of Southwest Virginia and her grandparents' home in Slant, Virginia. She would go to the two-room schoolhouse where she learned to read at an early age. Reading was one of her passions, with a collection of too many books to count. She loved poetry and could still recite poems she had learned in grade school.

She was the top of her class in high school at Dobyns Bennett before receiving help from her teachers and principal in getting enrolled in ETSU. There she was an English tutor to Jay, her husband to be, along with working her way through school. After graduation, she became a fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary school in Kingsport.

When WW II arrived, she followed Jay to Battle Creek, Michigan until the end of the war. She returned to teaching, handling real estate, and working in the insurance business during the summers. When she moved to the insurance business full time in 1952, she began a lifetime of working with, mentoring, and teaching everyone around her. She never stopped doing that for her friends, family and everyone who met her.

The family wants to thank Irene's other family at Modern Care Givers, Sheila, Sonnie, Tasha, Jess, Kevin, and Stacy, for their loving support during the past few years. Their care was beyond measure.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, please make donations to the First Baptist Church in Kingsport, TN.

A Celebration of Irene's life will begin at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Kingsport with Dr. Marvin Cameron officiating.

The family will receive friends immediately following in the church atrium.

A private Graveside Service will be conducted at Oak Hill Memorial Park. Those serving as pallbearers, Joshua Harville, Jordan Harville, Jaron Harville, Matthew Spivey, Mickey Spivey, Patrick H. Spivey III, and Richard A. Spivey.

To share memories and condolences with the family please visit www.oakhillfh.com

The care of Irene Spivey Harville and her family has been entrusted to the staff of Oak Hill Funeral & Cremation Services.