Ruth Ann Taylor Harvey

Posted on April 19, 2023

Ruth Ann Taylor Harvey passed away on April 7, 2023 at Dekle Beach after a long battle with glioblastoma brain cancer.

She was born on Dec. 9, 1956, to Roy Eugene “Gene” Taylor and Ann Moody Taylor.

She was a devoted educator in the Taylor County School District for more than 40 years. She helped spearhead programs within Taylor County High School (TCHS) that reached beyond the walls of the classroom, such as the Environmental Studies Program. If you were fortunate enough to have Mrs. Harvey as a teacher then you, without a doubt, knew her passion for her students, her school and her community. She wanted everyone to have a fair shot at success and she made every student feel important and special.

Ruth loved the outdoors. You could often find her paddle boarding, biking or walking Dekle Beach. It was not unusual to see her leaving with a boatload of kids for a scalloping adventure, trip to 9 Mile Sandbar to look for sand-dollars, nature walk or to Crystal River to swim with the manatees.

She was the most thoughtful friend and always took time to make every event special for those she was celebrating.

Ruth is survived by: her devoted husband of 44 years, Craig Harvey; daughter, Hope Harvey Webb (Joshua) and her pride and joy, grandson, Ace Harvey Webb; sisters, Nancy Geohagan (Tom) and Karen Taylor; brother, Roy Taylor (Carrie Sue- a very special caregiver); nieces, Laurie Lilliott (Hud) and Gena Crouse English; nephew, Cory Taylor (Chelsea); and a crew of great-nieces and nephews. She had a special bond with her BFITWWW, Janet Johstono (Gene) and Rene Jiles (Doug), and her girlfriends, “The Ya-Ya Sisterhood.”

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, April 22, at the TCHS gymnasium. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m., and services will begin at 11 a.m.

All arrangements are under the direction of Burns Funeral Home of Perry.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to Big Bend Hospice or to the Ruth Harvey Memorial Fund (Hope Webb) at Buckeye Community Federal Credit Union to be used for a scholarship in her honor.