Lester Clayton Harvey Jr Obituary, Death; – A 58-year-old man has tragically lost his life following an incident in which a bear fell from a tree and struck him, reportedly during a hunting accident in Virginia, as indicated by various news sources.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has verified that a bear, which had been treed, fell and hit the hunter around 9:50 a.m. on December 9 in Lunenburg County, according to reports from WTVR-TV and WRIC-TV. A funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, December 19, at Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church.
The deceased, identified as Lester Clayton Harvey Jr., is survived by his wife, April McAllister Harvey, along with three sons, two daughters, and eight grandchildren. Lunenburg County is located approximately 80 miles southwest of Richmond, the capital of Virginia.
Preliminary investigations by the DWR revealed that a group of hunters had pursued a bear into a tree. As the hunters retreated from the base of the tree, one of them shot the bear. The animal subsequently fell and struck Harvey, who was standing about 10 feet away from the tree, according to officials. Harvey succumbed to his injuries on Friday at a hospital, as noted in his obituary.
Harvey, a native of Halifax County, was a self-employed contractor and an active member of Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, as stated in his obituary. Described as an enthusiastic outdoorsman, he was known for his friendly demeanor and ability to connect with others.
Josh Harvey, one of the victim’s sons, recounted that he was present with his father during the incident. “Dad was doing what he loved most, bear hunting with me and some of his good friends when he was injured,” he shared in a Facebook post on December 11, which included photographs of their hunting group.
In a video tribute shared by fellow hunter James Russell Hudson on December 14 via the Hounds Tales Hunters Facebook page, Hudson confirmed that Harvey passed away the previous day. “Keep Mr. Harvey’s family in your prayers,” Hudson urged. “It is never easy to lose a houndsman, or anyone, especially during this time of year.” The circumstances surrounding the death are still under investigation by state authorities, as reported.
