Harvey Edsel Wofford

HARVEY EDSEL WOFFORD

January 13, 1932 – April 13, 2022

Harvey Edsel Wofford, of Coquille, Oregon, tragically passed away April 13, 2022.  He was 90 years old.

Harvey was born to William and Viola Wofford of Drumright, Oklahoma.  He was the youngest of 3 siblings. 

Harvey graduated from Drumright High School in 1950, and received his degree from University of Oklahoma in Geophysics.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he served in the Korean War, making rank to Corporal.  When he returned to the states, dad’s duties were transferred to Active Army Reserve under Universal Military Training, Artillery in 1954 and continued until he was Honorably Discharged in September, 1960. 

Harvey returned to Oklahoma to try his hand in the restaurant business.  He bought and operated The 33 Club, where he met Joan Marie Clark, in 1955.   They later married, in December 1957.   After selling the business, he began working for Seismograph Services Corporation in Tulsa Oklahoma before taking a job with National McCollum Continental, Geophysical Surveys.  While employed with NAMCO, he relocated to Africa, living in Libya, while surveying and researching throughout Egypt, Libya and Tripoli and most of Northern Africa.  He always wanted to return to Egypt and his stories of Africa will be greatly missed.  Dad’s job kept he and mom on the constant move, from Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan before taking a job with Bureau of Land Management in Portland.  He moved his family one last time to the Oregon Coast before his retirement in 1991.  He spent 30 years with BLM.

After Harvey’s retirement, he stayed busy, taking a job as a park ranger.  He loved the outdoors and enjoyed being able to visit with anyone who would talk to him.   He was an avid fisherman and a member of the STEP fish enhancement program with ODFW.  His love of fishing was known around the community.  When dad wasn’t fishing, he would be in the waters retrieving fishing gear from people who lost their lines and lures to trees or snags.  His magnificently large collection was available to anyone in need of a lure or a good story.

Harvey began digging ditches, repairing and over-hauling small engines and cutting loads of firewood, to help him stay active in his later years.   He enjoyed interacting with people and made several friendships throughout the many years serving local businesses and families.  He was passionate about his bees and would help anyone who was willing to house any of his hives.  He had a wonderful gift for making homemade apple cider, garlic powder, horseradish, or anything that came from the garden.  Harvey was a jokester and prankster with a quick wit and could answer every question on Jeopardy.    He loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed. 

Harvey is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Joan Marie Wofford (Clark) of Coquille; his children, Tim Wofford (Cynthia) of Coos Bay; son Charles Wofford (Ramona) of Arlington, Texas; son Anthony Wofford (Veronica) of Tacoma, Washington; and daughter Jena Gardner of Coquille.  His grandchildren, Timothy Wofford of Sheridan, Shawn Wofford of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Lauren Wofford of Lake Charles, Louisiana; Sonja Delarosa of Coos Bay, Ryan Wofford of Tacoma Washington, Ashley Wofford of Chehalis, Washington, Garrett Gardner and Reggie Gardner of Coquille, along with 8 great- grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents, older brother Emory “Lloyd” Wofford, and sister Muriel Morris.

Our family would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and condolences, and a big thank you to the community of Fairview who gave their time and energy helping dad with his many projects. 

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