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BY ROZELLA HARDIN
Editorial Director
rozella.hardin@elizabethton.com
Darrell McCoy Harmon was just a few months shy of his 89th birthday when he died June 19 at his home in Poga. Darrell lived in Valley Forge when he was growing up, but later moved to Poga, where he lived most of his life. “He wouldn’t have it any other way,” said his wife, Nancy.
Darrell was one of those people who could do just about anything he set his mind to do. He started in life as a farmer, then worked at the local rayon plant, and when it closed he became a school bus driver. Eventually he became a long haul trucker, driving for Thomas Produce and later with Danny Herman Trucking of Mountain City. As a truck driver, he had trips all the way to California and places in-between.
He had a tremendous work ethic, and his different jobs provided him with a lot of experiences and stories to share. A sister-in-law, Debbie Church, wrote on Darrell’s tribute page, “He always had a smile and story to share.”
When he drove a school bus his route began in Poga, continued to Little Milligan, and ended in Hampton. “He knew many of the students and enjoyed talking with them,” said Nancy.
When he wasn’t working, Darrell enjoyed fishing on Watauga Lake and Elk River. Both places were close to him. He also enjoyed reloading ammo, in which he made his own bullets, and re-loaded the ammo into new shells. In his retirement years, he collected both guns and coins.
Nancy said her husband’s favorite gun was a small .22 caliber rifle, which he used to teach his children and grandchildren to shoot. “He loved his children and grandchildren,” said Nancy.
Darrell had a son, Timothy, and a daughter, Vicky, as well as four granddaughters, two grandsons, a step-grandson, and five great-grandchildren.
Nancy said she and Darrell met in a bean patch. “Back when we were young, we would pick beans to make a little money, and that’s where we met,” she said with laughter. “He has been a good provider, good husband, and father. He liked to stay busy…he never was one to sit around and do nothing. That was not his thing,” said Nancy.
She said Darrell took their children fishing often when they were growing up.
Darrell was a faithful member of Beech Mountain Missionary Baptist Church and was faithful in his attendance as long as his health permitted him to attend.
He enjoyed family gatherings, especially Sundays, birthday celebrations, and holiday get-togethers. His favorite meal was chicken and dumplings. Nancy said her husband was not one to watch much TV, but when he did, it was usually old westerns.
Nancy summed up Darrell Harmon’s life best: “He was a hard worker, a good, humble, country man. He loved his family and neighbors. He had a good heart.”
Darrell Harmon’s life was celebrated in a memorial service at his home church and he was laid to rest in the Harmon Cemetery. Darrell Harmon left a lot of good memories for his family and the Poga Community.