Gerald Dayton Harms

Gerald Dayton Harms, age 80, of Schell City, was born on Dec. 4, 1927, in Lincoln, Mo., to Albert H. and Ruby Parks (Rohning) Harms and passed from this life on Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Schell City, Mo.

Gerald attended school in Lincoln and Schell City then attended college for two years. In the early 1950s he served in the United States Army, in the Korean Conflict, 24th Division 7th Infantry.

In the fall of 1950, Gerald was united in marriage to Mary Lou Scobee, and to their union four sons were born. They made their home in Schell City for a time before moving to the Perry, Mo., area. During this time, Gerald worked for General Motors, in Kansas City, Kan., then for Kaiser Refactoires, in Mexico, Mo., and also farmed all of his life.

After the death of his wife in February 1992, Gerald moved back to Schell City where he continued to farm until his death. On Oct. 15, 2004, he was united in marriage to Mary Rogene (Stempel) Harms.

Gerald recently received his 50 year pin at the Schell City Masonic Lodge No. 448, AF and AM and was also a member of El Dorado Springs Chapter of Order of the Easter Star No. 148.

Survivors include his wife Rogene, of the home in Schell City; three sons, Mark Harms and his wife Cheryl, Craig Harms and his wife Shirley and Van Harms and his companion Melissa, all of Jacksonville, Fla.; one sister, Ruth Ijams, of Schell City; three step daughters, Julie Schwartz and her companion James Berndt, of Lincoln, Neb., Lorie Tipton, of Boone, Iowa, and Rosemary Micklich and her husband Bob, of Nevada; one grandson; two great-granddaughters; six step grandchildren; one step great-grandchild; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Aside from his first wife, Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, and brothers Virgel, Henry, Belford Joseph, Earl, Eugene and Albert Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 20, at Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, in Schell City, with Bro. Howard McPeak officiating. David Souza and Kelly Davis provided musical selections. Pallbearers are family members and friends. Honorary pallbearers are: Evertte Prough, Ted Thomas, Jim Goodman, Sam Vantellman, Dennis Vantellman, Doug Vantellman, John Lewis, Richard Webber, Jim Day, Kenny Penn, B.D. Dickbreder, Fred Haynes and Roy Fishback. Interment will be in the Lick Creak Cemetery, in Perry, Mo. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Shriner's Hospital. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Lewis-Hoagland Funeral Home, in Schell City.