James "Jim" Monroe Harmon, 89, of Gulf Breeze, Florida passed away peacefully on December 7, 2024, at the BeeHive Homes of Gulf Breeze.

Jim was born to the late Raymond Littleton Harmon and Lora Mae (nee Ackley) on June 26, 1935, in Sesser, Illinois. Jim grew up in Mason City, Illinois and graduated from Mason City Community Unit High School in 1953. Jim served in the United States Navy from 1956 – 1960 and was attached to the USN Mobile Construction Battalion 9 ("We Build, We Fight") with a stint at Pearl Harbor and in the Marshall Islands. He was also stationed at Port Hueneme, California.

On August 4, 1965, Jim married the love of his life, Jonel Sharp Harmon.

Throughout most of his life he worked as a Design Project Engineer for Peabody Coal Company, finishing his career with retirement in Henderson, Kentucky retiring at the age of fifty-five. Jim was an ordained minister, loved Jesus Christ and was instrumental in the First Baptist Church of Henderson jail ministry. After Jim and Jonel relocated to Pensacola, Florida in 2017, he enjoyed spending time with his family, participating in a jail ministry in Escambia County, hunting for seashells, the sunshine, and the ocean. In his younger years, Jim was an avid outdoor enthusiast who loved hunting and fishing, golf and just taking in the wilderness. He also enjoyed tending to his beautiful flower gardens he and Jonel built together. Jim never met a piece of chocolate he did not like and was a soda pop fanatic! One of his main duties as a husband was carrying Jonel's purse while shopping.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Jonel Sharp Harmon. He was also preceded in death by a brother Jack, a brother William ("Bill"), and a sister Lula Mae.

Jim is lovingly remembered by his children Beth Ann Warner (Ken Warner) of Milton, Florida, and Barbara Kay Clauser (Clint Faugust) of Pleasant Plains, Illinois. He is also survived by his grandchildren Jordan Alan Rud (Chrissy) and James Robert Rud (Crystal Froggher) and 5 great-grandchildren:  Hayden, Dakota, Johnathan, Josephine and Robert.  He is also survived by his sister Loretta Skaggs (Johnny) of Mason City, Illinois and several nieces and nephews.

Jim's life celebration will be held at Wilson Park Funeral Home, Rochester, Illinois on Friday, December 20, 2024. Visitation will be from 10am – 11am. Graveside services, with military honors, will immediately follow at Edinburg Cemetery in Edinburg, Illinois.

Jim was a member of Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida.

A special thank you to the BeeHive Homes of Gulf Breeze for their loving care and support.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association.