Jonel Sharp Harmon, 87, stepped into Heaven on May 25th, 2024.  She resided in Pensacola, Florida, with her husband of 58 years, James Monroe Harmon.

Jonel was born May 6th,1937 in Taylorville, Illinois to the late John William Sharp and Ludora Helen Sharp (nee Brown).  She was preceded in death by her brother Doug Sharp.

She grew up in Breckenridge, Illinois and graduated from Rochester Community High School in 1955 as class Salutatorian.  She married James Monroe Harmon on August 4th, 1965.

Throughout her life she worked for the University of Illinois Extension Service in Belleville, Illinois.  After a move to Henderson, Kentucky in 1986, she worked for the Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic in Evansville, Indiana.  She retired at age 79 after a long career serving our nation’s veterans which she was extremely proud of.  After retiring they relocated to Pensacola, Florida to enjoy the sunshine and the beach.  Jonel was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) organization for 39 years.  Being a descendant of the Donner party, she enjoyed researching her family’s genealogy.  She also enjoyed tole painting, reading, gardening, traveling, spending time with family and collecting seashells.

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

Jonel is lovingly remembered by her children Beth Ann Warner (Ken Warner) of Milton, Florida and Barbara Kay Clauser (Clint Faugust) of Pleasant Plains, Illinois.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Jordan Alan Rud (Chrissy) and James Robert Rud (companion Crystal Froggher) and 5 great-grandchildren:  Hayden, Dakota, Johnathan, Josephine and Robert.  She is also survived by her brothers Joe Sharp (Karla) of Springfield, Missouri and Gene Sharp (Linda) of Waterloo, Illinois, and several nieces and nephews.

Jonel’s celebration of life will be held at Wilson Park Funeral Home, Rochester, Illinois on Friday, June 14th, 2024.  Visitation will be from 10am – 12pm with graveside services immediately following at Edinburg Cemetery in Edinburg, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

A life so beautifully lived deserves to be beautifully remembered.  Jonel will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

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