Jim Harvey

"Big Jim" Harvey, of Bay City, passed away early Thursday morning December 15, 2011 at Mid-Michigan Medical Center in Midland, age 74. The son of the late Elmer & Nila (Woolan) Harvey, he was born September 14, 1937 in Grand Island, Nebraska. In 1957 Jim founded what began as a trailer sales company and is now International RV World with Michigan locations in Bay City, Mt. Pleasant and Gaylord. He is very well known across the country in the RV industry. Jim loved to buy and sell anything and also enjoyed his Harley-Davidson motorcycles and boating. Jim is survived by his wife, Bobbie J. Harvey; his children, Vicki (William) Brown, Cindy Chapman, Shelley Harvey, Sonya (John) Rodgers, Angela (Timmy) Gibson and Kelley (Trevor) Harvey-Martin; grandchildren, Tracy, Jeff, Tara, Shannon, Lynne, Brian, Nicole, Makenzie, Cameron, Elizabeth, James, Dawson, Timothy, Cody, Jackie and Morgan; seven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lois Hardiman, Dessie (Don) Sample, Betty VanConant and Roberta (Richard) Baker; and several nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Jim was also preceded in death by a son, Alan Harvey; his brother, Elmer "Jigs" Harvey; and a sister, Barbara VanConant. The funeral service will take place at 1:00pm on Tuesday December 20, 2011 at the Gephart Funeral Home. Officiating will be Rev. Paul D. Theiss with interment following in Fremont Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 2:00 to 8:00pm and on Tuesday from 12:00pm until time of service. Memorial contributions may be made to the wishes of the family which will be donated to a local charity to assist needy people in the area.