BUXTON- Silas B. Harmon Jr., age 90, husband of the late Geraldine Zachow Harmon, passed away on May 14, 2020 at Maine Veterans' Home in Scarborough. Born on March 2, 1930 in the beginning of the Great Depression, “Si” or “Sonny,” as Gerry used to call him, grew up in the Libby Town section of Portland.
One of seven kids, he spent his childhood Saturdays with his father Silas B. Harmon Sr., a blacksmith for Portland Parks Department, learning the trade.
At 17 years of age, Silas enlisted in the United State Marine Corps. He was so young that his father had to sign a parental consent for him to join. While on active duty, Silas was assigned to mechanics school at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From there he worked in the motor pool and then went on to serve with the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade in Guam. He spent time at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego and later was assigned to the 1st Marine Division in Camp Pendleton, California. He served from May of 1947 to June of 1950.
Silas eloped with Geraldine Zachow (17) from Stroudwater on August 18th of 1951 in Portsmouth, NH. They went on to have a daughter and five sons spanning 18 years. When discharged from the military he went to work as a night mechanic at Nissen Bakery and filled in as a truck driver. He later started a truck repair business working with many well-known outfits in southern Maine. In 1969, the family moved to Swans Island, off the coast of Southwest Harbor, and went scallop dragging. The family soon returned to Portland, then Scarborough, and finally settled on Long Plains Road in Buxton where Silas was licensed as a plumber and worked as a foreman and welder doing renovation and revitalization work in the Old Port during the 1980s. He and his little dog, Fred were a common sight around the old port as he made beautiful railings, stairways, fencing, furniture platforms, fire escapes and circular staircases. He enjoyed pointing them out to family and friends over the years as they stood the test of time. Later in life Silas set up a welding shop at his home in Buxton where he built many steel boats such as the USS NevaSail and Odds N’ Ends. At one time, he had eight employees at Harmon’s welding including three of his sons and two nephews. He could make anything from a piece of steel, but he would rather restore an old diesel engine or work on his boats.
After semi-retiring, he traveled with his wife, Gerry, throughout the United States and Canada in his RV, although based on their stories, it never seemed that they took the same trip.
He loved each of the dogs and cats he had over the years and never met a lobster or a boat he did not like. He was incredibly resourceful and was called on by many to be a jack of all trades late into his life. Si is remembered as someone that would always tinker with a car, motorcycle or steel pipe and have it fixed in no time. He had a few heart surgeries over the years and his family often referred to him as the bionic man. He was a talented card player and would take you for all you were willing to lose.
He is predeceased by his parents, Silas B., and Carrie Currie Harmon, his wife, of 53 years, Geraldine Zachow Harmon, his sisters Freda & Helen, his brother Howard, and sister-in-law Diane and brother- in–law, Dick Ganem. He is survived by his younger brother Carl Harmon, his daughter Linda and son-in-law, Bill Fuller, son Peter and his late daughter-in-law, Camilla Harmon, his son Silas B. Harmon III (“Butch”) and his fiancé Linda Davis, son Michael and daughter-in-law Jane Harmon, son Danny Harmon and daughter-in-law Darcy Dyer, and his son Joseph Harmon, and his ex-daughter-in-law Joanna Leborgne, who he loved as a second daughter. Silas loved spending time with his 10 grandchildren: Shanna Fuller Cahalane, Kimberly Johnson, Glenn Johnson, Ryan Harmon, Trevor Harmon, Christina Harmon, Trisha Harmon Higgenbottom, Silas B. Harmon IV, Thomas Harmon, and Jonathan Harmon and many great grandchildren.
Due to Covid-19, a private service officiated by Pastor White and including Marine Corps Funeral Honors will be held on October 8th at 5 pm at Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service Chapel in Buxton. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Si’s name to: Maine Veterans’ Home, 290 U.S. -1, Scarborough, ME 04074, where he spent his final days, with compassion by all the amazing staff that care for our brave veterans.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Chad E. Poitras Cremation and Funeral Service, Buxton, www.mainefuneral.com
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