Graveside funeral service for Harvey Lee Coombs will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 13, 2023 in Pecan Cemetery with Rev. Jim Roberts officiating.

Arrangements are under direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Harvey Lee Coombs died Saturday, November 4, 2023 in Wichita Falls, Texas at the age of 85.  He was born December 8, 1937 in Lawton, Oklahoma to Ernest E. and Ethel A. (Burton) Coombs.  He spent his formative years in Lawton and was a 1956 graduate of Lawton High School where he was an outstanding baseball player.

Following graduation, he signed a Triple A contract to play baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers.  He went directly to New York and played Class D ball in the Pony League, ending the season with a 317-batting average.  The following season he played Class B Ball in the Big State League and then Class C Ball in the California State League.  In 1958 he played Class A ball in the Western League, sustaining an injury which ended his baseball career.

Harvey returned to Lawton and enrolled at Cameron State Agricultural College, seeking a profession in teaching.  He earned his associate degree in business from Cameron and later received his bachelor's degree in education from Midwestern State University and his Master of Education degree from North Texas State University.

Harvey was employed by the Wichita Falls Independent School District and began teaching at the high school level and coaching golf.  He later went into administration and was the Director of Personnel for the school district, retiring after 38 years.  He was later employed by Midwestern State University in their student teacher program for several years.  Upon retirement, he moved to the family cattle ranch near Fletcher, Oklahoma, and enjoyed cattle ranching and taking care of the land and fishing. Harvey was very passionate about playing golf and once scored a hole in one.

Eventually Harvey moved to Brookridge Retirement Center in Lawton and later to Presbyterian Manor in Wichita Falls where he made new friends and reconnected with old friends.  The family is extremely grateful to Dr. Robert Parkey and the staff of Healing Hands Healthcare in Wichita Falls for their caring, compassionate care.

Harvey is survived by his cherished daughter, Beth Ann Coombs, Wichita Falls; as well as the love of his life, Doris Yvonne Anderson.