May 28, 1940 - March 24, 2011

It is with heavy hearts that the family of Jess Odeen Harmon sorrowfully announce his passing at Royal Inland Hospital on Thursday, March 24, 2011 after a very long and very courageous battle with congestive heart failure.

He leaves to lovingly cherish his memory his best friend and loving wife of 47 years, Millie and his three sons, Odeen (Shannon), Ian (Connie) and Leland (Trina) and his grandchildren, ("my guy") Jacob and ("my girl") Emily. He also leaves his brother Clarence (Marie), sister Shirley (Leonard) and brother Frank (Lorraine), numerous nieces and nephews, many relatives and friends in Kamloops, Logan Lake, Prince George, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

He was predeceased by his dad, Arthur Lloyd Harmon, his mother Clara Josephine Harmon and his brother Albert.

Jess was born May 28, 1940 in Melfort, Saskatchewan. In the mid-50's, Jess moved with his parents and brothers and sister to Prince George where he met his future wife Millie. Jess and Millie were married in Prince George on June 22, 1963. Their three boys were also born in Prince George and eventually Jess and Millie moved their family to Kamloops. Jess enjoyed a variety of careers doing a multitude of things from working construction, driving taxi, building a pipeline and driving a mail truck before he enjoyed a long career at BC Tel (Telus) as a parts man. After retiring from BC Tel, he and Millie started up their own business, Copper Country Pilot Car, which took them on many diverse travels over the last couple of years.

Jess was a man that took immense pride in his family. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved to go camping and fishing. He also put on many grand barbeques with Millie that left no one hungry. He loved to cook and have family gatherings. He was always there to lend a hand whenever someone needed him. He was a master craftsman, who built many a treasured wood working projects. He was always there to listen and would be there for anyone in a heartbeat.

He loved to spend time with his grandchildren, "his guy" and "his girl" and they got just as excited when they would see Grandpa and Grandma pull up in their truck. He shared a special bond with each one of them. Jacob was his John Deere guy who liked to wear "grampa pants and grampa shirts" and go camping at Tunkwa Lake where their dragon tree was located. Emily was his ice cream cake eating partner and his little ballerina. They both spent many a nap when they were babies falling asleep on Grandpa's belly.

Jess was an amazing man and will be dearly missed and eternally loved by each and every member of his family and all that knew him.

There will be no funeral service as requested by Jess, but a Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon in Jess's name would be greatly appreciated by his family.

A very special and very heartfelt thank you to Colby and all of the wonderful nurses on 7th North that took such amazing care of Jess and helped to ease his pain. Your kindness, professionalism and care meant the world to his family.

Online condolences may be expressed at
www.schoenings.com