Commander Harvey Lee Lasell USN (Ret) passed gently in his home in Oak Harbor, WA on Jan. 10th, 2017 surrounded by family.
Harvey was born in Williamstown, Vermont to the late Harry and Fern Recor Lasell. He never lost his love for his native State and took many trips back to visit with family and to renew himself with the beauty of his native home. He always returned with his Vermont accent intact once more. He was the 2nd of seven children, a beloved brother and Uncle Bud to his extended family. To his grandchildren and many others, he was Grankey.
After graduating from high school in Springfield, Vermont, Harvey moved to Washington D.C. to study at George Washington University. He lived with his Aunt Mable and Uncle Will Lasell until a suggestion was made that he seek an appointment to the US Naval Academy. He loved to tell the story of meeting with the Vermont Senator and receiving his appointment to the Naval Academy. Harvey married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Elizabeth "Betty" Murray.
After graduation from the Academy in 1939, Harvey was assigned to the USS Yorktown CV5 where he served until her sinking at the Battle of Midway. He later served on the USS Randolph and the USS Essex, putting in 91 months of sea duty during and following World War II. Commander Lasell retired from the Navy in 1960 and took his family "out West" to work for Boeing in the Seattle area. Upon retiring from Boeing in 1982, he and Betty moved to the home they built together on Whidbey Island.
Harvey's passion for life showed in all he did. He was committed to his family, his farm, horses, his many boats, stained glass projects, and spending time with family and friends. Until the last few years, he was always ready to pack a suitcase and head off somewhere. Always active, Harvey attended Whidbey Presbyterian Church in his later years, was a member of WICMOAA, the New England Club, and the PBY Naval Air Museum. He also was a Mason and an American Legionnaire. Harvey will forever be remembered for all the kaleidoscopes he made and presented to people all over the world. Harvey's great sense of humor and warm personality made him memorable as a grand old gentleman to the many people he encountered.
He was beloved by the members of his family, a help and inspiration to his neighbors and church, and a character to all of his favorite waitresses. He never met a stranger, which made trips to town in his El Camino one of his favorite things to do until he lost his driver's license at the age of 98.
Harvey was preceded in death by his parents, five of his siblings, his beloved wife of 54 years, Betty, and their son Harvey Jr. He leaves behind to honor and grieve him four daughters—Sylvia Torrey, Joyce Kuhn, Elizabeth Lasell-McCosh and Kristina Imhoff; his daughter-in-law Patricia Kaip Lasell, his brother Captain Max Lasell USN (Ret), 12 grandchildren, and a multitude of great grandchildren and young people of all ages that consider him their Grankey, Bumma, or Papa Bud.
Services for Harvey will be on Jan. 28th at 4:00 p.m. at Whidbey Presbyterian Church. There also will be a service remembering him in Williamstown, Vermont this spring where he will join his beloved Betty.
Contributions in Harvey's name may be made to the PBY Naval Air Museum of Oak Harbor, the Naval Academy, or the Commander Harvey L. Lasell MOAA ROTC Scholarship awarded to an outstanding ROTC student at Oak Harbor High School each year.
Arrangements are entrusted to Wallin Funeral Home, Oak Harbor, WA.
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