Sarah Palmer Harmon

Sarah Emily Palmer Harmon passed away on February 10, 2026 after an extended battle with breast cancer. She was born in Radford VA on February 26, 1992, and lived with her family in The Netherlands and Japan before moving to Socorro, NM at age 3. At age 9 she moved with her family to Missoula, MT. Sarah attended Big Sky HS in Missoula for two years, and Taroona HS in Tasmania, Australia for one year. She graduated from Hellgate HS in Missoula in 2010.
Sarah began playing the trumpet in 5th grade and developed her passion and talent for music and the trumpet in public schools in Missoula and Tasmania, where she played in the Island Brass Academy. Sarah earned a BA in Music at Centre College in Danville, KY in 2014, under the guidance of Vincent DiMartino. She earned an MA in Trumpet Performance from Eastern Kentucky University in 2016, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Trumpet Performance from University of Missouri Kansas City in 2020.
Sarah married Jacob Harmon on June 1, 2019, in Berea, KY and they welcomed baby River on May 21, 2023. Sarah was a loving and caring mother to River. She was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2023, and fought courageously through numerous treatments and trials. Sarah was an amazing gift to all who knew her well. With her great talent, love for life, strong sense of justice, contagious enthusiasm, and a smile and laugh that brought joy to the world, she touched the hearts of all that knew her. She is survived by her husband Jacob Harmon and child River Palmer Harmon, parents Christopher Palmer and Janet Parks Mann Palmer, brother Benjamin Palmer and his wife, Xena Cortez. In lieu of flowers Sarah requests that donations be made to the St. Luke's Cancer Institute in Kansas City, MO.