Tommy Harmon

Tommy Harmon, or better known as Papa Tom to his family, of Overland Park KS, passed peacefully on Friday, December 21, 2019 on his 78th birthday.  Due to complications of long term Multiple Sclerosis, he moved to Aberdeen Village Assisted Living in Olathe, KS in April 2019. In December he was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and passed away at Kansas City Hospice House.

Tommy was born in Vermillion, SD on December 21, 1941 the youngest child to Bert and Agusta (Peterson) Harmon and grew up in Centerville, SD. In 1963 he married his high school sweetheart, Linda Williams.  They had a daughter, Annette.

After attending barber college in Sioux City, IA he moved to Sioux Falls where he opened the Captain’s Chair barber and beauty salon. He loved playing mens fast pitch softball and when he wasn’t playing ball, he was organizing a tournament or running the concession stand. In 1984 they lived in Baton Rouge for a brief time before settling in New Orleans, LA.  It was during this time he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and forced to retire. While living in New Orleans, he enjoyed celebrating Mardi Gras, golfing with friends and even cheered for the Saints even though he was a loyal Chicago Bears fan. In 2003, Tom & Linda decided to live closer to their grandkids and moved to Overland Park, KS.  In their retirement, they loved traveling together and visited Egypt, China, Europe and Hawaii as well as taking frequent trips to Las Vegas and Wendover NV to play blackjack. Papa Tom was especially proud of his grandkids, Lindsay & Grant, and enjoyed cheering them on in all of their activities. His favorite walking cane was decorated with their pictures and he loved when people would ask to see it.

Tommy leaves behind by his wife of 56 years, Linda Harmon, daughter Annette and husband Barry Dyer, granddaughter Lindsay Dyer, grandson Grant Dyer, sister Eva Erickson (of Centerville, SD) and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Agusta, siblings; James, Duane, Luverne, Earl, May, Floyd and Lula.

A celebration of life will be held in Centerville at a future date.