Raymond W. Harmon

Raymond W. Harmon, a prominent and highly respected businessman, philanthropist and civic volunteer died March 24 at his home in St. Charles. He was 79 years old. After serving in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945, he returned to school and earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Washington University in St. Louis. At the age of 29, he and two partners acquired Nursery Identi-Foto (now Growing Family), a business which installs camera equipment in hospitals to photograph newborns. It took off and became the leader in its field, eventually becoming an international service company. When he and his partners decided in 1978 to move the headquarters to St. Charles, it presaged the influx of numerous small, midsized and large companies, several of them Fortune 100 firms, into St. Charles County. He ran the business until selling his majority interest in 1991, but remained the company's chairman of the board. Harmon's special passions included education, health care, religion and social services. On the board of Lindenwood University, and chairman for more than ten years, he took special pride in playing a part in its remarkable comeback. He was simply continuing the family tradition begun by his father, Rev. Lloyd B. Harmon, who was a professor of religion and philosophy there, and his sister Jeanne Huesemann, professor emeritus of mathematics. In the area of health care, Harmon understood the importance of providing top-notch services to the citizens of St. Charles. He and his wife Grace underwrote the SSM St. Joseph Heart and Lung Rehabilitation Center which was named in their honor and serves hundreds of patients each year at it facility at Second and Jefferson Streets in St. Charles. Years ago, when asked by a reporter why he gave so much of his time and energy to these various organizations, Harmon replied: ''You have to give back to the community.'' He stated it matter-of-factly, as though it was just common sense. Mr. Harmon is survived by his wife, Grace, herself an active community volunteer; two daughters, Janis Allyn Dickson and Lynn Harmon Morrell; a sister, Jeanne Huesemann; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials may be given to New Hope Presbyterian Church, SSM Health Center Foundation, Lindenwood University, or, Raymond & Grace Harmon Charitable Foundation.