Roy Franklin Harmon, JR., M.D., recently of Brentwood, Tennessee, passed away Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Williamson County Medical Center at age 87. Dr. Harmon was born April 8, 1929 in Houston, Mississippi, the son of Grace McWhorter Harmon andRoy Franklin Harmon, Sr.
Dr. Harmon was a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he also received his Master's degree in Sociology. He served in the United States Army as a corporal prior to matriculating at University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1956. On February 1, 1957 he married the love of his life, Bess Hall Moore of Jackson, Mississippi, daughter of A.G. Moore and Mamie Hall Moore at St. Andrews Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi. Following an internship at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis, he completed a surgery residency at the University of Arkansas Medical School.
In 1968, Dr. and Mrs. Harmon moved to their beloved home in Columbia, Tennessee where they raised bird dogs, cattle, and championship Tennessee Walking Horses on Tucahoe Farm. Dr. Harmon served as a founding member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Owners' Association and a board member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders' Association.
In 1995, Dr. Harmon retired after practicing medicine for fifty-two years as a surgeon during which he had the honor of serving as Chief of Staff and on several occasions, Chief of Surgery, at Maury Regional Hospital. He assumed the role of director of clinics for Saturn Corporation in Spring Hill until 2000, when he returned to Maury Regional Hospital as Vice President of Medical Affairs until his retirement in 2007.
Dr. Harmon took great pride in being involved in the growth of the Maury Regional Hospital and enjoyed his friendship with colleagues, hospital staff, nurses, and patients. He was a vestry member and Eucharist Minister at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Throughout his career Dr. Harmon steadfastly maintained a commitment to see that his patients received quality medical care regardless of financial means.
He is survived by his wife, Bess Moore Harmon; three children, Roy F. Harmon, III (and his wife, Jenifer B.Harmon), Emily Hastings, and A.G. Moore Harmon; six grandchildren, Camden and Tinsley Hastings, of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Roy F. Harmon IV (and his wife, Courtney S. Harmon), Hal (and his wife, Courtney J. Harmon), Emmie and Will Harmon, of Greenville, South Carolina; and two great grandchildren, Howell Boyd Harmon, Jr. and Jenifer Jane Harmon.
Funeral services were conducted Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 3:00 P.M. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church with Father Chris Bowhay officiating. Family interment will follow in St. John's Churchyard at Ashwood with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 1:30 P.M. until service time at the church. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements and condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Active pallbearers will be Mr. Doug Monroe, Dr. David Daniels, Dr. Gary Podgorski, Dr. George Heard, and grandsons, Roy Harmon IV, Hal Harmon and WillHarmon. Honorary pallbearers include Mr. Virgil Moore, Dr. and Mrs. John Simmons, Dr. and Mrs. Tom Dake, Mr. and Mrs. Bill Walters, Dr. and Mrs. John Brown, Dr. and Mrs. Tim Gordon, Mrs. Ellen Rodgers, Dr. and Mrs. Bobby Bain, Dr. and Mrs. Rodney Poling, Dr. Lucy and Mr. Gary Ledbetter, Dr. Linda Monroe, Dr. Amit Choksi, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Tate Parker, Dr. and Mrs. Taylor Rayburn, Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Barr, Dr. and Mrs. Allyn Lay, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Lancaster, Dr. and Mrs. Jim Marshall, Dr. and Mrs. Charles Ball, Ms. Mary Harvell, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas White, Dr. and Mrs. Bill Hunter, Dr. Janice Vinson, Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Sisk, Dr. and Mrs. Williams Cook, Dr. and Mrs. Tom White, Dr. Randy Baker, Dr. and Mrs. Sam Kuykendall, Mr. Edward Moore, Mr. Charles Ward, Mr. Waymon Hickman, Dr. and Mrs. Brad Gilbert, Mr. Tom Hardin, and Mr. and Mrs. Dalton Mounger.
The family would like to express a special thanks to friends, Mary Harvell, Wanda Batson, Ann Pearce, and Andrea Dunn.