Harvey Edward Harman

1954 - 2025

Harvey Edward Harman

January 27, 1954 - November 6, 2025

Harvey Edward Harman (better known as Eddie, Ed, Dad, and Granddad) passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, November 6, 2025.

Eddie was born on January 27, 1954, in Blacksburg, VA, to William Gene Harman and Lana Robinson Harman. He grew up surrounded by family including his special cousins (Gina Shelor, Steven Sheppard, Drew Sheppard, and Robert Sheppard), his Aunt Joyce, and his Granddaddy and Grandmama Robinson.

In his younger days, Eddie was a standout baseball and football player in Blacksburg. Some of his fondest memories were playing football for Allen Wiley and Bill Brown - stories he would recount often. He would later share this passion with his children by helping coach many of their little league and AAU teams. He spent hours in the front yard playing sports with them and sharing life lessons.

After high school, Eddie served in the United States Air Force in the 1970's, serving at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. After his military service, Eddie returned to Blacksburg in 1974. He lived there until he married Mendy and moved to Salem, VA in 1978 where they started and raised their family.

Music was one of Ed's biggest joys! Eddie played trumpet in the Blacksburg High School Warrior Band and later taught himself how to play drums and guitar. He lived for listening to music and everything was fair game. Zeppelin to Sinatra, Hank Williams to Curtis Mayfield, Steely Dan to James Brown, The Stones to Kool and the Gang, Earth Wind and Fire to Zappa. If it put a smile on his face and made him move - he was hooked. His love of music was infectious, and he shared it with those around him - especially his children and grandchildren.

Eddie was also a skilled woodworker and talented carpenter. He co-owned a carpentry contracting company with his best friend, Ed Meador, taking enormous pride in the homes they crafted. Quality mattered to him, and so did the friendships he made along the way. At home, he could always be found tinkering in the garage or outside-music turned up loud enough that anyone searching for him could just follow the sound.

Family traditions were important to Ed. He enjoyed celebrating holidays with his family, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the Christmas season, he loved listening to the James Brown Christmas album, watching A Christmas Story on repeat (with his very own leg lamp ablaze), and making his special homemade cinnamon hard candy - a tradition that lives on through his children. Another tradition loved and passed down by Eddie was surprising the birthday boy/girl with a healthy slab of butter on their nose! This has become one of his family's most anticipated parts of any birthday!

He was a quick-witted, funny individual who enjoyed "cutting up"and laughing with others. He was the king of "dad jokes". He was a humble man with rough hands and a tender heart who was full of real-world wisdom. He was a deeply spiritual man, whose connection with God was very important to him.

Eddie lived a life of contentment and was proud of his home and family. He was a devoted family man who took great pride in his role as a father and grandfather. He missed no chance to tell his children and grandchildren he was proud of them and that he loved them. He was loved dearly and will be terribly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Mendy Harman; his son, Jordan Harman (Becky); and his daughter, Casey Harman Morris (Joshua).

In addition, he is survived by his beloved grandchildren, Henry Morris, Lana Morris, Finley Harman, and Bowen Harman.

The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date, at Eddie's request.

Online condolences may be expressed by visiting www.johmmoakey.com.