Harmon, Esther R. Schmitt (1890-1932)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1932 May 31 p. 15

Birth date: 1890 Mar 29

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1932 Jun 1 p. 4

Esther K. Harmon.

Mrs. Esther K. Harmon, nee Schmitt, daughter of the late Daniel E. and Elizabeth Schmitt, was born at Moundridge, Kans., March 29, 1890, and passed away at the Bethel Hospital May 18, 1932, after an illness of two weeks. She reached the age of 42 years, 1 month and 19 days. She attended the local grade and high school and was graduated from Bethel College academy in the class of 1909. For several years she devoted herself to the teaching profession.

On June 11, 1905, she was baptized upon the confession of faith in her Savior by the late Rev. Wm. Galle and received into the membership of the West Zion Mennonite Church, of which she remained a faithful and active member until the end of her earthly career.

In the fall of 1913 she entered the Southern California Hospital of Los Angeles, receiving her R. N. degree in 1917, after which she did private nursing till she answered her country's call as a Red cross nurse. She reported for duty at the Base Hospital, Camp Pike, Ark., June 4, 1918, and alter was transferred to the Base Hospital at Camp Lee, Va., receiving her honorable discharge in Sept. of 1919.

Her married life began under romantic circumstances. As the result of an accident her future husband was brought as a patient into the hospital where she was serving at Hampton Roads, Va. Here she cared for him and later a warm friendship developed. When she was mustered out of service she went to Woodlake, Calif., to be with her mother and sister. She was joined here by Mr. Roy D. Harmon, to whom she was married on Sept. 26, 1920, in the home of her sister, Mrs. A. P. Haury.

Thus an acquaintance begun on the Atlantic coast culminated in a marriage on the Pacific coast a year and a half later. Mr. Harmon lived at Griffithsville, W. Va., to which place they returned to make their home. Mr. Harmon was taken ill and forced to spend long months away from his family in a veteran's hospital. At this time his family moved to Moundridge, Kansas, to be near relatives. A year and a half later the broken family circle was again united by Mr. Harmon's arrival in Moundridge.

To this union were born three children, Roy Thomas, age 10, Elizabeth Jean, age 8, and an infant son born May 3. The passing of Mrs. Harmon takes from a devoted family circle a loving helpmate and a sacrificing mother. To know Mrs. Harmon was to love her.

One brother, Dr. Edwin C. Schmitt of Monrovia, California, preceded her in death. She leaves to mourn her early departure her deeply grieving husband, three children, two brothers, J. J. Schmitt of Oakland, Calif., D. H. Schmitt of Moundridge, one sister, Mrs. A. P. Haury of Woodlake, Calif., a sister-in-law, Mrs. Couella Geiger Schmitt of Monrovia, Calif., and a host of relatives and friends.

Following brief services at the home, services were held at the West Zion Mennonite church Sunday afternoon, May 22, at 2:30 o'clock with Rev. P. K. regier and Rev. J. F. Moyer in charge. Her casket was draped with an American flag as a token of her services in the Word [sic] War. Pallbearers were Z. F. Huffman, A. H. Fast, Alfred Meyer, W. P. Regier, Wilson Rupp and Clayton Vogt. Special music during the services was furnished by a mixed quartet composed of Bertha Meyer, Frances Fast, Weldon Rupp and Edward Rupp. They were accompanied by O. W. Dirks at the piano. Mrs. B. M. Dirks was at the organ. Sprinkers Mortuary of Newton had charge of the body. Iterment [sic] was in the Mennonite cemetery one mile west of Moundridge.