Helen Marie Harmon

A memorial visitation will be held Sunday, May 18th from 2:30-3:30 p.m. with a prayer at 3:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St., KCKS, 66112. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Pkwy, Kansas City, KS 66104 or Kansas Advocates for Better Care, 913 Tennessee Ste. 2, Lawrence, KS 66044.

Helen Marie Harmon was born on October 17, 1918 in Alma Kansas. She was the first child of seven born to Florence Ivy Porter Hildebrandt and Gustave Henry Otto Hildebrandt. She was a strong, positive thinking woman who loved her family and life. Following her graduation from High School, Helen attended Emporia's Teacher College for one year. At the age of 18 she began teaching in a one room school house, which would be the first of many. The schoolhouse was out in the country so Helen would rent a room at one of her students’ houses, coming home on weekends to be with her family. Helen attended college in the evenings and during the summer months. In May of 1949 she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Science at Kansas State University, in Manhattan Kansas. She then went on to attain her Master’s Degree with a major in Education and a Minor in Psychology at Kansas University, in Lawrence Kansas. Upon receiving her degrees, she began teaching elementary school in Kansas City for 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade classes. Helen taught elementary school for 37 years, 26 of those years for U.S.D. 500 in Kansas City Kansas at the Parker School. She was a part of many organizations in the Kansas City area throughout her lifetime. These organizations include Counsel of Clubs, Friends of the Library, Kansas Association of Retired School Personnel, Wyandotte Chapter, and Kansas Advocate for Better Care, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, United Way, and the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

She met her husband, Julius Maynard Harmon by chance when he came to the home of his cousin, Janelle Hosler, for a visit. You see, Helen rented a room from the Hoslers at this time. They fell in love and were married on May 17, 1947, until his passing on November 26, 1995. Helen and Julius were married for 48 years and lived full, happy lives. They were lovers of cats and took in dozens during their lifetime. Helen was an avid gardener, who always had a berry or blossom in bloom in her yard year round. She enjoyed sharing seeds from her garden with others. In fact when my mother, her sister, passed away two and half years ago I found a small folded piece of paper in her sewing basket. The paper had yellowed with age and I faintly could read the words, tomato seed and the date which was more than 20 years ago. This January I dropped the seed in a planter in the front of my home, never did I imagine it would actually grow. The tomato plant is now 20 feet long and 4 feet tall, I have folded it in on its self so many times that I have to use a flashlight when looking for cherry tomatoes. Today alone I picked more than 300 tomatoes and I can see the smile on her face knowing all of those tomatoes came from her one little seed.

On Friday May 9, 2014 after 95 wonderful years with us she drew her last breath. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, Gustave and Florence Hildebrandt, her husband, Julius Maynard Harmon, her brothers, Dennis and Merle Hildebrandt and sisters, Doris O'Donnell and Lois Ewin. She leaves behind her youngest brother, Caroll Hildebrandt, his wife, Mary and Helen's youngest sister Nelda Pagay. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews, including Great's and Great Great's, as well as her many, many friends and her beloved cat, Baby. Helen was loved by all and will truly forever be missed.

The family would like to thank Helen’s caregivers for the compassion and comfort they’d shown her in her time of need and would like to extend a special thank you to Bill O’Neal for being such a great neighbor, friend, and always being there to lend a hand when needed. They would also like to thank Christy Munsen for being such a great care giver and friend to Helen.

~~~~~~~ POEM~~~~~~~~~

Feel no tears in laughter, she knows how much you care.

Feel no sorrow in a smile that she is not here to share

You cannot grieve forever; she would not want you to.

She'd hope that you could carry on the way you always do.

So, talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared

The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.

Let memories surround you, a word someone may say

Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day,

That brings her back as clearly as though she were still here,

And fills you with the feeling that she is always near.

For if you keep those moments, you will never be apart

And she will live forever locked safely in your heart.

Unknown