From The Oak Ridger 2 Nov 2004 Clifford Taylor Harmon, 81, of Claxton, Della Marie Raper, 82, of Oak Ridge, Eugene "Drew" Burcham, 43, of Harriman, Ray C. Cate, 83, of Oliver Springs, Robert Pritchett George, 79, or Oak Ridge, Clifford Taylor Harmon, 81, of Claxton, died of a heart attack Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004. Born Aug. 9, 1923, in Orleans, Ind., he was the son of Clifford Dewey and Hallie Fern Harmon. He graduated from Orleans High School, and later earned a psychology degree from Purdue University and his master's degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a radioman. He was a strong supporter of the Second Amendment Foundation. He spent 10 years as a field director for the American Red Cross assigned to military installations in the Southeast, and five years with the Red Cross in Germany. During the Vietnam War, Mr. Harmon served for seven years with the Agency for International Development Refugee program. According to his family, a story was told about how Mr. Harmon made a paper airplane for a young refugee boy in a small Vietnamese village. Upon returning to the village a year later, he found the child delighted to show him the cherished paper airplane he still had after all that time. Mr. Harmon dedicated his life to helping others, according to his family. He retired in 1974 from the U.S. State Department after injuries sustained in a plane crash in Vietnam in service to his country. His family said he also found time during his life to pursue personal interests with an intensity that demonstrated his intellectual and creative spirit. When he developed an interest in a subject, he engrossed himself in that topic until he emerged an expert. Some examples of his extraordinary abilities were fly fishing - he made his own lures; scuba diving - he had all the equipment; organic gardening - he grew the biggest vegetables in the neighborhood; jewelry making; gemology; lapidary arts; woodworking - he made Lincoln logs for his grandchildren; framing and matting pictures; target shooting; and painting - in oils, watercolors, and tole. His family also said he also had a life-long love/hate relationship with golf. Sometimes the clubs would dance through the air along with the golf balls. He also loved to read science fiction novels, Louis L'amour westerns, and solve crossword puzzles. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother. Mr. Harmon is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bernice Rose Harmon; his daughters, Sandra Harmon of Sandy, Utah, and Deborah Harmon of Maryville; his sons, Clifford D. Harmon of Dallas, Texas, and Charles E. Harmon of Powell; and by eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, a brother and five sisters. Mr. Harmon was deeply loved and will be sorely missed, according to his family. A private family celebration of his life will be held at a later date. No public funeral or receiving of friends will be held. Any memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Anderson County Unit, P.O. Box 6014, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; or the American Red Cross, 908 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge. TN 37830. Woodhaven Funeral Home in Claxton is in charge of arrangements. Della Marie Raper, 82, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. Born Nov. 25, 1921, in Tellico Plains, she was the daughter of James Willis Tucker and Louise Shaw Tucker. Mrs. Raper was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Baptist Church. Her husband, Harrison Raper Jr., died March 19, 1996. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Byrl Bogdanowicz. Mrs. Raper is survived by her sons, Gary Edwin Raper and wife, Carol, of Hendersonville, and Jerry Charles Raper of Houston, Texas; her brothers, Ralph Tucker and wife, Lillian, and Harold Tucker and wife, Sharon, all of Detroit, Mich.; and her sisters, Grace Tabor of Gallipolis, Ohio, Faye Loveday and Lila Ramey and husband, Gordon, all of Knoxville, and Mary Bailey and husband, G.W., of Clinton. She is also survived by her grandsons, Matthew Raper of Houston, Texas, and Michael Raper of Hendersonville; her granddaughter, Pam Hurt and husband, Stephen, of Bowling Green, Ky.; her great-grandchildren, Parker and Cameron Hurt of Bowling Green, Ky.; her caretaker, Missy Cox and her family, of Lake City, and numerous nieces and nephews. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary with Bruce Gouge officiating. Burial will follow at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens in Claxton. The family asks that any memorials be in the form of contributions to the American Heart Association, Anderson County Unit, P.O. Box 6014, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; the American Cancer Society, Anderson County Unit, in care of Lee Costanzo, 103 Case Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830; or Calvary Baptist Church, 163 N. Jefferson Circle, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, at Weatherford Mortuary. An on-line guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com Eugene "Drew" Burcham, 43, of Harriman, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Roane Medical Center in Harriman. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which were incomplete at presstime. Ray C. Cate, 83, of Oliver Springs, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Lake City Health Care Center. Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs is in charge of arrangements, which were incomplete at presstime. Robert Pritchett George, 79, or Oak Ridge, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 at NHC Healthcare of Oak Ridge. Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements, which were incomplete at presstime. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD