Obituary of Jack Harmon

WEST COLUMBIA - Funeral services for Jack L. Harmon, 79, of West Columbia, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, September 22, 2011, at Brookland United Methodist Church. Officiating will be Rev. Wayne Smith, Jr. Burial will follow in Celestial Memorial Gardens with Masonic rites. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at the West Columbia City Hall, 200 North 12th Street. Thompson Funeral Home of West Columbia is assisting the family. Mr. Harmon, widower of Donnie Mackey Harmon, passed away on Monday, September 19, 2011. Born in Columbia, he was the son of the late Jesse Theodore Harmon and Bonnie Steele Harmon. He was a lifelong area resident and a member of Brookland United Methodist Church. He was retired from Lucent Technologies. Jack graduated from Camden Military School and attended Newberry College. He was a life member of the Sinclair Masonic Lodge #154 in West Columbia, Columbia Scottish Rite and the Columbia York Rite. He was a charter member of the Jamil Shrine Temple and was elected Potentate in 1992. In addition, he was the founder and Director Emeritus of the Jamil Sportsters Unit. In 2006, the Sportsters' building at Jamil Temple was erected and dedicated to Mr. Harmon in honor for his many years of service and devotion. He was a member and Past Director of Columbia Court #177, Royal Order of the Jesters, and was also a member of the Kachina Club. In 1999, Jack was elected to the West Columbia City Council, where he served as a Council Member, as well as Mayor pro-tem for several terms. He was an Army veteran and a member of the American Legion Post #79 in West Columbia. Surviving Mr. Harmon is his son, Jack L. "Jay" Harmon (Tammy) of West Columbia, daughters Sharon H. Niland and Sheila H. Casserly (Jim), both of West Columbia; sisters, Jacqueline Harmon McRae of West Columbia and Shirley Harmon Ware (Gene) of Due West, SC; two grandchildren, Daniel Harmon and Erin Niland. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Thomas M. Niland and brother-in-law, Olin M. McRae, Jr. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Mr. Harmon's memory to the Shriner's Hospital for Burned and Crippled Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605; Brookland United Methodist Church, 541 Meeting Street, West Columbia, SC 29169, or to a charity of your choice.