OBITUARY: Dan Harmon Sr.

Mr. Daniel “Dan” Lee Harmon, Sr., 69, left this earth surrounded by his loved ones on March 19, 2025, at his home in Lebanon, Tennessee. Born on March 15, 1956, in East St. Louis, Illinois, Dan was the third child born to William “Bill” & Betty Harmon. The family moved from East St. Louis to Lake of the Ozarks, MO when Dan was in grade school.

Dan & his brothers were quite mischievous, with big sister, Cathy, catching most of the blame. Mom ruled with an iron fist and the siblings knew Dad was always ready with a bailout plan. Tales have been spun of many a broken bone, chipped teeth, and one Christmas even shooting his brother from afar with his brand-new BB gun. He aimed and shot his baby brother dead in the eye through the tiny slit in a cardboard box. This gave Dan well-deserved bragging rights of being a “crack shot”.

His humor was unmatched. He was the funniest guy on the planet, always joking around and bringing laughter to those around him. It was this very charm that first caught the eye of his beloved wife, Judy, when they first met at high school. One of Dan’s favorite pastimes was learning to play the guitar. He had a wonderful voice, some said sounding a whole lot like Elvis. Singing to Judy was another woo factor when charming his “Angel Blue Eyes”, a touching love song he wrote for her.

Dan lived a life filled with love, laughter, and devotion to his family and faith. A true man of God, his spirituality was woven into the fabric of his soul and evident in the way he loved and lived his life. Dan was a master perfectionist who did everything well. His meticulous nature shone through in his woodworking skills and in every aspect of his life.

He was an avid hunter and cherished time in the woods with his brothers, along with his best hunting buddy, Danny Jr. Despite his disease, during his last elk hunting trip to Colorado, he climbed to the top of Sleepy Cat Mountain, leaving the others trailing behind. But above all else, Dan’s greatest role in life was being “Poppy.” He was devoted to and adored his grandchildren beyond measure—not just saying it but living it every day. Anytime you saw Poppy, there was sure to be a grandchild nearby, basking in his love, warmth, and no doubt a little chocolate ice cream.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 50 years, Judy Burton Harmon; his son and best friend, Danny Harmon Jr.; his beloved daughter, Jaime Harmon; loving daughter-in-law, Kelly; and his five cherished granddaughters, Josie Harmon-Bruwer, Autumn Samulski (Jacob), Sydney Bruwer (Conner Bennett), Harlee Danielle Harmon, and Emma Grace Harmon; one special grandson, Brandon Campbell—as well as his precious great-granddaughter Renlee Grace Samulski. He also leaves behind his siblings, Cathy Harmon Garavalia (Dave), William Harmon, Jr. (Ronan), Mike Harmon (Cheryl); sister-in-law, Nancy Burton Moore; and brother-in-law, Bobby Burton. Dan had many nieces and nephews who will miss him and his antics dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William Harmon, Sr. and Betty Jean Harmon. Dan also had a deep love and respect for animals, especially his four-legged furry friends. He always had a doggy on his lap and took great care in making homemade food and treats for them. His five rescued senior Miniature Schnauzers—Scruby, Misty, Izzy, Belle, Wally—and one special Maltipoo named Bella Boo, were reunited with him just days ago. He will be sadly missed by his current pups – Roxie & Annie.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dan’s name to the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Mt. Juliet, TN; a fitting tribute to a man who loved so deeply and gave so much to both people and animals alike. https://ofsds.org/

Please join us for Celebration of Life services on April 6, 2025 at Cedar Springs Farm at Bone Hollow. Visitation at 4:00pm, services at 6:00pm. Dan’s memory will live on through the laughter he shared, the love he gave so freely, and the countless lives he touched along the way.