Margaret Joyce (Edwards) Harms, 75, of Hillsboro died Saturday, March 22, 2014, at 10:05 p.m. in Montgomery Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Taylor Springs after over a five year battle with ovarian cancer.
Funeral services for Mrs. Harms are scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 10 a.m. at the Bass Patton Dean Funeral Home in Hillsboro. The Rev. Karl Wellnitz will officiate, and burial will be in Donnellson Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, March 26, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. Harms was born on Oct. 2, 1938, in Hillsboro to Richard and Pauline (Joyce) Edwards. She and her family moved from near Irving to the Edwards family farm south of Hillsboro in the early 1940s. A graduate of Hillsboro High, class of 1956, she went to work as a typist for Horace Mann Insurance in Springfield.
She and Richard Harms were married on June 1, 1958, in Hillsboro, and he survives. Also surviving are four children, Karen Harms of Springfield, David (wife Lori) Harms of Highland, Conni Melton of Auburn, and Scott Harms of Ballwin, MO; four grandchildren, Shelby and Shannon Melton of Auburn and Morgan and Nicholas Harms of Highland; one brother, Elvis (wife Sharon) Edwards of Belvidere; brother-in-law Henry (wife Gerry) Harms of Hillsboro; cousins Jean Duncil of Hillsboro, and Patricia Miller of Albuquerque, NM; five nieces; three nephews; several great-nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many lifelong neighbors, friends, and her loyal dog, King.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Larry Wayne (in infancy); one sister, Carolyn; and three nephews.
She worked on the family farm with her husband and children for 40 years and served as a caregiver in the community for several years after her children were grown.
A member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church since 1958, she was a member and officer in the LWML (Ladies League). She also volunteered at church functions, making barbecue and ice cream for the annual church social; and she took charge of changing the altar cloths and candles.
She enjoyed cooking (especially holiday meals for her family) and sewing and liked to walk King.
Her family suggests memorials be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in lieu of flowers.
