Harvey, 36, died April 24, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, of Leukemia. He was born February 24, 1950, in Omak, Washington. Harvey grew up in sight of NCSB-the hill above the base. He always wanted to be a smokejumper. NCSB made some of their practice jumps on Cotner Hill, adjacent to Harvey's home.

Harvey rookied at NCSB in 1968, joined the Army following one year of jumping. Was in US Army, 1st Cavalry—Mechanized Unit. He traveled throughout Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange defoliant. After his Vietnam tour Harvey jumped at NCSB 1972-75. From his Agent Orange exposure Harvey contracted a rare form of Leukemia. He died after eight years battling Leukemia. It took the Army 14 years to acknowledge that his cause of death was Agent Orange.

Harvey was not married. He was survived by his mother Ann, father Earl (now deceased), sister Lauri, and brother Dave Cotner, NCSB rookie jumper 1975.