Harmon Walker

Clarence “Harmon” Walker passed away on April 25, 2024, in Roseburg, Oregon, at the age of 89. Harmon was born on March 31, 1935, in Sparks, Nevada to Leslie Lee and Marjorie Rachael Walker and was the fourth of 10 children. He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers, 1 sister and 3 grandchildren. As a young man, Harmon worked in Riddle, Oregon, at Stomar Lumber Co as a millwright, Lily’s Market as a butcher and at the local gas station as a gas station attendant. The outdoors and the land called him to start homesteading in Nevada, where he bought property and farmed potatoes. Two years was enough; Harmon and family moved back to Oregon and built his first house. In Myrtle Creek, he worked at Green Valley Lumber Company. His passion for hard work and independence drove him to start his own business as a general contractor, building houses in the Myrtle Creek area, including his own home, eventually, spanning to apartment buildings and a couple of restaurants. Working on the new Myrtle Creek Nazarene Church building alongside others solidified lifelong friendships and was there that he gave his life to the Lord. He attended church there for many years, until moving to Roseburg. Harmon was an adventurous man and an avid fly fisherman, spending many hours as a young man casting his rod in the local rivers and teaching others the art. He loved to fish, lake or ocean and would, at the spur of the moment say, “hey let’s go,” and the family would pile in the car and head to the beach or the river, sometimes staying all day just “dogging around” or looking for agates and deciding to spend the night with nothing more than a sleeping bag spread out on the beach for the night. Other times, he’d take to the ocean on his uncle’s fishing boat hoping to catch some salmon. He always told his kids, “If you catch it, you clean it.” That was a given. Rock hunting was a family affair, and the relatives would meet in Central Oregon or Idaho to dig and search for thunder eggs to take home, clean and cut, and put through the rock tumbler. After days of tumbling, the excitement never got old to see what beautiful treasure would appear. Passion for working with his hands and love of the land prompted Harmon to move from construction to berry farming, starting the Berry Patch with his wife, Noreane. After years of berries, he added fruit trees, flowers, grapes and produce of all kinds; always ready for one more idea that would come to mind to plant and the excitement of watching it grow. Each time he would have to break the news to Noreane that one more thing was being added to the farm! He grew produce in Canyonville, Myrtle Creek, Riddle and at the new farm and home built in 1994, on the river in Roseburg. Any time someone stopped by the farm he would have to take them out to share what new thing he had going on in the field and, of course, send them home with produce. Retiring, for Harmon, was not in his vocabulary. He loved to work, to be on the land and never tired of the excitement of new life on the farm. Unfortunately, a couple of years ago, at 87, physical ailments and progression of dementia said otherwise. Harmon gave in and parked his tracker and side by side ATV. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 Harmon is survived by his wife and the love of his life, Noreane, of 50 years, 1 brother, Robert Walker; 4 sisters, Barbara Bentson, Sandra Walker, Martha Walker and Isabelle Fowler; 6 children, Cindy Ireland Tatone and son-in-law, Jody Tatone, Connie Berg and son-in-law, Tim Berg, Sandy Reeser and son-in-law, Devin Reeser, Robert Smith and daughter-in-law, Jeanette Smith, Susan Waterman and son-in-law, Warren Waterman and Debi Cassar and son-in-law, Mark Cassar; 17 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Service will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024, at 2:00 at Church on the Rise, 3500 NE Diamond Lake Blvd., Roseburg, Oregon 97470.