Harvey Bissette, Jr.

Harvey Bissette July 24, 1950 – November 10, 2021 Harvey Bissette, Jr, 71, of Bailey died Wednesday of complications from dementia. He was born in Wilson, on July 24, 1950, the last of Harvey and Nettie Bissette’s ten children. He graduated from Bailey High School and earned an Associate’s Degree in Wildlife Management from Wayne Community College. He served honorably in the US Army and became an electrician, working in nuclear power plants across the country and later joining the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers union in Las Vegas, helping maintain the famous bright lights of that city for more than a decade. Harvey traveled extensively throughout the US and especially loved visiting the National Parks. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and trees and became a beekeeper in retirement, tending to his pollinator garden and planting milkweed to help the monarch butterflies on their migration journey. He was an avid reader, who also enjoyed woodworking, dancing, and eating ice cream daily. He was a wonderful father, brother, and friend whose kind heart and generosity will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his parents, two infant sisters, sister, Willistine Flowers; brothers, Lewis Bissette, G.L. Bissette, and Jay Bissette, and former wife, Yvonne Stott. He is survived by his daughter, Robyn Bissette; sister, Inez Underwood; brothers, Mitchell Bissette and Brooks Bissette; many nieces and nephews, and his beloved cats Bernie and Goldie. It was Harvey’s wish not to have a funeral service and that any remembrances be made in the form of a donation to his favorite wildlife conservation organization, the Duke Lemur Center. Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.