Jerry Carson Harmon

Jerry “Papa” Harmon

June 14th, 1933

September 16th, 2017

Jerry Carson Harmon, age 84, went to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on September 16th, 2017at 3:00 am at Webco Manor in Marshfield, Missouri. Jerry was born on June 14th, 1933 to Floyd and Laura Harmon in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jerry Harmon joined the U.S. Navy in March of 1953 and served until February of 1955. Jerry Harmon’s military occupational specialty was radio repairman. While in the U.S. Navy, Jerry was assigned to the USS Curtiss (av-4). Jerry served aboard the USS Curtiss during Operation Castle, a nuclear testing operation that took place in the Bikini Atoll, which is located in the Marshall Islands. After the completion of Operation Castle, Jerry served the rest of his time in the navy at the naval station in San Diego, California. Jerry earned the national defense medal for his service to his country.

Jerry married Betty Lou Lewis on November 20th, 1954, in Fresno, California. They met at church in Fresno, CA.   It was love at first sight!!! Daddy drove from San Diego, CA, where he was stationed in the navy to Fresno every weekend to court mom in his ’49 Plymouth convertible.  They were married for 62 years.

Jerry grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He learned the trade of being a body shop man from his father, Floyd. Jerry has always had a love for cars.  Jerry, after marrying Betty, lived in Fresno California doing body shop work. They lived in Fresno for a few years and had 2 children. They moved to Merced, California for a few years and then moved to Sacramento, CA, where Jerry got a job for Allstate insurance. He became a claims adjuster with them and worked the next 6 years there. He moved to Redding, CA with Allstate and was still working as a claims adjuster, but, worked on claims for homes as well. Jerry moved to Vallejo, CA.  and soon after, started a job with fireman’s fund out of San Francisco. He soon moved up in his job and went to work on their estimation operation called, Audatex and moved to Oakland, to start heading that department. Jerry was still a body shop man at heart and after commuting for many years in the bay area, he left his job with sun electric and started a job as body shop manager for Albedi motors.   Jerry bought the building and became his own body shop owner. Jerry and Betty moved to Marshfield, Mo in 1989 and he retired from the body shop business in 1999. He still remained active for many years doing side jobs of body shop work and golfing.

Jerry is survived by his son, Dennis Harmon and Cheryl; daughter, Sheree Simmons and Rocky; grandchildren, Carrie McSorley and Randy, Kelly Eutsler and Rob, Rocky Simmons and Kayla, Amy Miller and Tim, Billy Harmon and Becky, Tori Bruton and Jerry, Toni and Joey;  21 great grandchildren; 7 great, great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Shirley Newhouse and Monte, Nina Daniels and Linda (Geita) Franklin and Ben; many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Betty Harmon; his parents, Floyd and Laura Harmon; his sister Betty; and 3 brothers, Bob , Howard and Don .

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 6, 2017, at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield, MO.