Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon, 85, of Baker City and Richland, Oregon died on December 21, 2020 at St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho.  A Celebration of Life Potluck (family providing the meat) on Saturday, June 26, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Dan's home at 17501 Deer Park Loop in Baker City. 

Daniel Floyd David Harmon was born on June 23, 1935 in Toledo, Oregon to LaRoy and Hilda (Voss) Harmon.  He was raised and educated in Toledo, graduating from Toledo High School in 1953.  After a year studying and playing football at Oregon State University in Corvallis, he joined the US Army and served his country from 1954 to 1956.  On March 22, 1958 Dan married Nancy Ann Gardner in Newport, Oregon.  Together they had three children: Gregory, Elizabeth and James.  Dan and Nancy moved their family from the Oregon Coast to Baker City, Oregon in 1972.

Dan enjoyed a career with Oregon State Police from 1959 to 1985, rising through the ranks from Patrolman in Newport and Tillamook, to First Sergeant of the Baker City office.  On his off time, he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, mining for gold up in Sumpter, fishing for steelhead, and hunting for elk, deer, and pheasants. With his wife Nancy, he was a member of many fraternal organizations, including the Baker City chapters of the Elks and the Eagles.

One of Dan and Nancy’s passions was their membership in, and volunteer work through, the Freemasons and Masonic appendant bodies.  Dan was a Past Master of Baker Lodge No. 47, Oregon A. F. & A. M.  He and Nancy were active in the Eastern Star, and Dan was involved in the Baker DeMoley, as well as being a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in the Baker Valley of the Scottish Rite. 

Most important to Dan was his work as a Shriner.  Dan served as Outer Guard of the El Korah Temple in Wilsonville, Oregon.  One of his greatest honors was serving on the Board of Governors of the Portland Shriners Hospital for Children in 1988-1989.  Dan was also known for his leadership within the East-West Shrine Football Game Committee.  He was Game Chairman in 1988 and 1989, and had a reputation for personally helping make Oregon’s game one of the most successful in the country. 

Dan was preceded in death by his father LaRoy Harmon, his mother Hilda (Voss) Esquivel, his step-father Ignacio Esquivel, his wife Nancy, his son Gregory, and his brothers Sidney and Monte.  He is survived by his daughter Elizabeth Harmon and Randy Jorgenson of Richland, Oregon; son James Harmon of Pendleton, Oregon; brother David Esquivel and sister Josephine Esquivel; his grandchildren Griffin Hale and wife Laura,, Amanda and husband Brian Lindsay, Laura Hale and partner Jimmy Smith, Austin Harmon and wife Keisha, Aurora Harmon, and Deanna Harmon, and 12 great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.

For those who would like to make a memorial donation in memory of Dan, the family suggests the Portland Shriner's Hospital through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home P.O. Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com