Roy Franklin Harmon, JR., M.D., recently of Brentwood, Tennessee, passed away Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Williamson County Medical Center at age 87. Dr. Harmon was born April 8, 1929 in Houston, Mississippi, the son of Grace McWhorter Harmon and Roy Franklin Harmon, Sr.
Dr. Harmon was a graduate of the University of Mississippi where he also received his Master’s degree in Sociology. He served in the United States Army as a corporal prior to matriculating at University of Mississippi Medical Center in 1956. On February 1, 1957 he married the love of his life, Bess Hall Moore of Jackson, Mississippi, daughter of A.G. Moore and Mamie Hall Moore at St. Andrews Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi. Following an internship at John Gaston Hospital in Memphis, he completed a surgery residency at the University of Arkansas Medical School.
In 1968, Dr. and Mrs. Harmon moved to their beloved home in Columbia, Tennessee where they raised bird dogs, cattle, and championship Tennessee Walking Horses on Tucahoe Farm. Dr. Harmon served as a founding member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Owners’ Association and a board member of the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ Association.
In 1995, Dr. Harmon retired after practicing medicine for fifty-two years as a surgeon during which he had the honor of serving as Chief of Staff and on several occasions, Chief of Surgery, at Maury Regional Hospital. He assumed the role of director of clinics for Saturn Corporation in Spring Hill until 2000, when he returned to Maury Regional Hospital as Vice President of Medical Affairs until his retirement in 2007.
Dr. Harmon took great pride in being involved in the growth of the Maury Regional Hospital and enjoyed his friendship with colleagues, hospital staff, nurses, and patients. He was a vestry member and Eucharist Minister at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Throughout his career Dr. Harmon steadfastly maintained a commitment to see that his patients received quality medical care regardless of financial means.
He is survived by his wife, Bess Moore Harmon; three children, Roy F. Harmon, III (and his wife, Jenifer B. Harmon), Emily Hastings, and A.G. Moore Harmon; six grandchildren, Camden and Tinsley Hastings, of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Roy F. Harmon IV (and his wife, Courtney S. Harmon), Hal (and his wife, Courtney J. Harmon), Emmie and Will Harmon, of Greenville, South Carolina; and two great grandchildren, Howell Boyd Harmon, Jr. and Jenifer Jane Harmon.
The family would like to express a special thanks to friends, Mary Harvell, Wanda Batson, Ann Pearce, and Andrea Dunn.