1920 – 2015

SUFFIELD, Conn. — Nellie B. Harmon, 94, of Suffield, Conn., and formerly a longtime resident of Livermore, died Sunday, Jan. 11, at The Suffield House.

She was born in Livermore on Nov. 6, 1920, a daughter of Earle H. Beckler and Beatrice (Partridge) Beckler. Nellie graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn and continued her education at Farmington Normal School, receiving her certificate of teaching.

On Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, 1942, she married her sweetheart and best friend, Lewis W. Harmon, of Livermore Falls, during his last furlough home before he was stationed in England for three years during World War II. While Nellie awaited his return, she taught school in Livermore and purchased the farm of her childhood dreams, currently Miller Farm on River Road.

When Lewie returned from the war on Christmas Day 1945, the couple started making their life together in the “house up on the hill.” Nellie taught in Livermore public schools for 12 years, before taking time off to raise their two children, subsequently returning for several years as a substitute teacher. She crowned her teaching career as “Miss Nellie,” beloved head teacher at Nursery Land School in Livermore Falls, where she served for 12 years, retiring in 1984.

Nellie was a former member of North Livermore Baptist Church, where she served as a deaconess, on the board of Christian education and as a Sunday school teacher for 22 years. She was also a member of the King’s Daughters, Daughters of the American Revolution, Livermore Ladies Circle, Livermore Center Neighborhood Club and was a seventh-degree Granger.

She enjoyed flowers, gardening, crocheting and reading, but she especially loved caring for and spending time with her family. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and will be deeply missed by her family and friends.

Nellie and Lewie were happily married for almost 70 years before Lewie’s death in 2012.

She is survived by her son, Daryl Harmon and wife, Marian, of Enfield, Conn.; her daughter, Aleene Galante and husband, Phil, of Belleville, Mich.; grandson, Earle Harmon, of Brookline, Mass.; grandson, Seth Harmon and his bride, Amanda, also of Brookline, Mass.; two stepgrandsons and eight step-great-grandchildren, all of Connecticut; and a sister-in-law, Helen Beckler, of Wilton.

She was predeceased by her brothers, Earle Jr., Frank, Charles, Edward, Mortimer and Ronald Beckler; and sisters, Miriam Beckler, Eleanor Pulver, Verna Warye and Theresa Stevens.

The family would like to express their great appreciation for the tremendous love and care given to Nellie by the staff of The Suffield House.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.finleyfuneralhome.com.