Obituary: Bernice Harkey

WEST COLUMBIA - Mrs. Bernice Harkey, 99, lovingly known as Bunt to her family and friends, and widow of Walter E. Harkey, died Friday, January 25, 2013.

Services will be held Monday, January 28 at 3 p.m., at Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia Chapel. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mrs. Harkey was born December 17, 1913, in Cherokee County, the daughter of the late Julius A. and LuElla McGraw Horton. She moved to Columbia in the 1940s and obtained work with the Columbia Army Air Base and later worked at Tapp's Department Store. In 1950, Mrs. Harkey was employed by State Machinery Company and worked there till her retirement in 1978. In 1968, she married Walter Harkey and they shared many happy years together until his death in 1980.

Mrs. Harkey was a member of First Baptist Church of Columbia for over 50 years and was a member of the Baraca Sunday School Class. She was a volunteer and employee of Lexington Medical Center in her senior years. She enjoyed senior activities with Oasis, Best Yet To Come, and XYZ, crocheting afghans, baking biscuits, and growing flowers.

Mrs. Harkey is survived by her sisters, Alleen Hyatt and Doris Blackwell; nieces, Carolyn Hite and Brenda Hyatt; step-sons and their wives, Mike and Jean Harkey and Phillip and Janice Harkey; grandchildren, Paige Torris, Craig Harkey, Shannon Askins, and Kurt Harkey; great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Harkey was preceded in death by her parents, husband, step-daughter, Kristie Lane, three sisters, Wilma Lynch, Myrtle Byars, and Eunice Horton; three brothers, Elwyn Horton, Melvin Horton, and William Horton.

The family extends appreciation for the care given to their loved one by the Lexington Gardens Community; caregivers, Margarite Grant and Dot Stillinger; and NHC of Lexington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to First Baptist Church, TV Ministry, PO Box 1000, Columbia, SC 29202.

Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com.