Karen Lee Harmon

Karen Lee Harmon (Umphrey), 74, of Monmouth, ME, died peacefully at her home and went to the Lord on July 12, 2023, surrounded by family, after a prolonged illness. She was born in Houlton, ME and raised in Washburn, ME --- “The County”. Being a true Mainer, she harvested potatoes and worked at a potato chip factory until her family relocated to Lynn, MA where she made a life-long friend in Eileen Bakoian and graduated high school. After high school she back-packed across England and Ireland – by herself – which her family always thought was incredibly brave. She then attended the Deaconess School of Nursing where she earned her RN and during those years met and married her husband, Ed Harmon, then of Norwood, MA. She and Ed had two sons, Eddie and Nathan, and relocated to Skowhegan, ME, with Ed’s mother, Edith, and the family. There, they raised their family until relocating to Norridgewock, ME. She worked early as a nurse at Redington-Fairview Hospital and then as a school nurse while her boys were in school. Later, she had a second career in Human Resources at Kennebec Valley Behavioral Health from which she retired. In retirement, her oldest Son, Eddie, moved back Maine to help care for her, eventually allowing them both to relocate to Monmouth to be closer to her youngest son, Nathan, his wife Kelley and grandsons Lucas and Jacob – as well as their beloved dog, Sammy. Although she and Ed divorced, Ed remained a loyal friend and was instrumental in remodeling her home in Monmouth, along with great efforts from Eddie, Nathan, Kelley and the boys, Ralph Fields, Roger Whitter, Shawn Schultz and L/S Windows in order to complete the entire remodel in 6 months time. She had six wonderful years in Monmouth, diligently and extremely compassionately cared for by her son Eddie while enjoying time with her grandsons and Sammy (her “good girl” dog). Eddie provided more care than anyone could ask. She spent the last six years enjoying many wonderful home cooked meals by Eddie, feeding the chickens off the porch, enjoyed home-brewed iced sun-tea (family recipe), attending youth baseball games to watch Lucas and Jacob and frequent visits to Nathan and Kelley’s home. She loved a good cup of coffee and was always willing to listen whenever someone needed a kind ear and a kind word. She was great at giving encouragement and support. She loved everyone and everyone loved her. She is survived by her eldest son, Eddie, whose care of her simply cannot receive enough praise and thanks, youngest son Nathan, daughter-in-law Kelley, grandsons Lucas and Jacob Harmon, elder brother Steve (Sue) Umphrey and younger brother Greg Umphrey, ex-husband and lifelong friend, Ed Harmon of Boothbay, Neil Harmon (brother in law), Marianne Harmon (Niece), William Harmon (Nephew), Denise Harmon (sister in law), Dianne Kilduff (cousin) and her daughter Heather Kilduff. She had wonderful neighbors in Pogo and Marsha, who often dropped by to share home-cooked cookies, bread and treats. Karen enjoyed watching the baby goats at Pogo and Marsha’s farm. She received excellent care from Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice in the last year of her life and enjoyed visits from nurses, chaplains and social workers along with exceptional care from Kelly, CNA and Kristen, RN. She also received wonderful care from Kym Foster of Elite Home Care, LLC. She will be missed by all who knew her and she is so very loved by all of us. A service has not been planned at this time.

Karen Lee Harmon

March 17, 1949 - July 12, 2023