Kevin Michael Haraway

We mourn and celebrate a special man, whose loss will course through many lives for a very long time. Son, brother, nephew, uncle, friend, cousin, Kevin was, to put it mildly, the life of every gathering he graced. No family occasion was complete without Kevin making the toast, taking pictures, telling stories, and, of course, flirting with the women. Even through the last difficult times, Kevin had the gift of happiness, not just experiencing it himself but sharing it with a wide and deep circle of family and friends. His caregivers in his group home, his hospital and hospice nurses, the large and diverse community of friends and family who gathered regularly at the home of his sister Debra and Jenn and mom who held him in their arms in the last days—all of these people and more knew Kevin was, in the terms used by the Hopi, a valuable man.  No one met Kevin without knowing they had been in the presence of a rare human being, one who made us all better, happier, more able to respond to each other and the world with love. Kevin was born December 17, 1965, in Washington, D.C., the eldest son of Carol Joyner Fuller and William Neil Haraway. He became part of a research program for infants with Down’s Syndrome, which helped his parents learn the ropes. But there was never any doubt that this baby was greatly loved and an able and joyful being, relating to a big, rollicking world full of adventures. He was joined by his brother Mark and sister Debra, whose loving care for their brother never wavered, whether it was Mark riding go carts with Kevin or Debra keeping an eagle eye on her unpredictable brother.  Debra’s complete dedication to Kevin allowed him to thrive and enjoy a wonderful life surrounded by friends and family, immersed in love and fun times.  Kevin took family extremely seriously, playing “house” and “going to the office” from the time he was a toddler. Only Clark Kent and Superman fantasies rivaled his immersion in playing—and living—family. Kevin attended schools in Maryland and North Carolina and graduated from Athens Drive High School in Raleigh in the same year as his brother Mark, in 1985. From that time on, Mark took charge of Kevin’s natty dress wardrobe for family events. Kevin worked at a local McDonald’s when Debra was the manager, and he also held employment for many years at Wake Enterprises workshop that gave him great satisfaction. After graduation, Kevin moved into the Haley Drive group home operated by Residential Support Services where he was surrounded by caring staff and a great community of friends and housemates. Kevin did his share of cooking and chores, and especially more than his share of making people smile. Kevin was a good swimmer, and he participated in the Special Olympics throughout his life – as a youth and as an adult. An avid escort for his girlfriends who lived in other group homes or with their parents, he attended dances with joy. No party at his sister’s house was complete without Kevin directing social affairs. Kevin was a proud uncle for Mark’s (and Sherri’s) children Colin and Emme. Kevin defied stereotypes in so many ways, learning to read and write, nurturing a vivid theatrical and story-telling talent, and most of all participating fully in a diverse and rich world. Kevin died peacefully on March 23, 2018 in Transitions Lifecare, Raleigh, NC. He is survived by his mother Carol Fuller, brother Mark and his wife Sherri and their children Colin and Emme, sister Debra and her partner Jennifer Prilliman, his uncle Rick and his wife Roberta (Miller-Haraway), his uncle Sonny Joyner and his wife, Beth and his cousin Kimberly Joyner Finch, his aunt Donna (Haraway)and her husband Rusten (Hogness), his cousin William Allen and wife, Wendy, his cousin Michele Button and husband, Chip, his stepmother Elaine and his step-sister Kecia Kane and her husband Dennis, his stepmother Laura and her sons Robbie and Jerry DeLauder and his wife, Steph DeLauder, and the rest of his extended family and of course, the host of friends who will carry him in their hearts for their whole lives. Kevin joins those who went before him, including his father Bill, stepfather Bob, aunt Jackie and Uncle Bill, maternal grandparents Nonnie and Poppie, and paternal grandparents Frank and Dorothy. Funeral service will be at  2:00 PM Wed. March 28, 2018 at  Bryan-Lee Funeral Chapel, Garner, burial will follow at Holly Springs Cemetery.  The family will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to the service from 1:00 - 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Kevins honor to one of the following: Residential Support Services (Kevins group home for 30 years) http://www.rsswake.org/ or Wake Enterprises (Kevins sheltered workshop for 25+ years) http:/wake-enterprises.org/ or William Neil Haraway Life Opportunities Fund at The Community Foundation of Frederick County https:/www.frederickcountygives.org/Giving-Your-Way/Explore-Funds?fn=William+N.+Haraway+Life+Opportunity+Fund