Harvey “Rusty” Hastings peacefully passed away on October 9, 2024 at the age of 97 at his residence in Kingman, AZ.
Harvey was born August 16,1927 Clemenceau (now part of Cottonwood), Arizona to Frank Hastings and Frank Elisabeth Crockett.
Harvey was married three times and had nine children. He is survived by his wife, three half-brothers, one half-sister, five children, 96 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, give or take.
In his youth, his family lived in Morristown. Harvey didn’t like school and was always running away to the ranches and mining camps in the surrounding area. He said his mother would call the law and the ranchers and miners would hide him “if the law came looking”.
The miners taught him many skills that he used as an adult. He learned mechanics, operating machinery and black powder blasting before he was 14 years old.
During WWII, cattle prices dropped and the ranchers switched from cattle to goats. Harvey herded goats for the Barnett family and learned animal husbandry and rangeland management. He camped out for days at a time moving the goats through the pastures and when he would return the goat herd back to headquarters, he was dusty and dirty. Mrs. Barnett said he looked “rusty” from all the red dirt…hence the nickname Rusty that followed him the rest of his days. Harvey said his mother hated the name Rusty because it was a reflection of her son being dirty and dusty.
When Harvey was old enough, his grandfather Crockett helped him join the labor union as a bit “powder monkey”. Thus began Harvey’s construction career and throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s he was involved with all the major road, canal and dam projects across Arizona.
After he retired from construction, Harvey started his second career entertaining tourists from around the world. Interestingly, when asked about his favorite job, without hesitation he would answer, “Working for the Smithsonian!” As a young man, Harvey worked on an archeological dig near Hot Springs, SD. He said he was trained to carefully remove dirt with a small brush to expose bones and artifacts. “That was the best job of my life, I really enjoyed that!”
Harvey’s natural wit, charisma and charm affected every life he came in contact with. The sparkle in his eye and the memory of him will be forever cherished.
Arrangements were handled by Sutton Memorial Funeral Home.
