William Ralph Harmon

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[William Ralph Harmon, 60, of Shawneetown, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at Deaconess Medical Center in Evansville, Ind., after an extended illness.

Bill, as most knew him, was born in Shawneetown on April 20, 1949, to Ralph and Ann (Mahoney) Harmon.

Bill graduated from Chaminade College Preparatory School, St. Louis, Mo., in 1967, and attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

He was an owner and operator of The Silver Fox and Beefeater's Bar and Restaurant in Shawneetown during the 1980s. Bill was known for his quick wit and contagious laughter, and it never bothered him if he laughed louder at his jokes than anyone else. He loved sports, especially St. Louis Cardinals baseball, spending time with his friends and family and enjoyed telling humorous stories about the past with his brothers.

Surviving are his son, Michael, and a daughter, Jaclyn (Tim Wood) Harmon, all of Shawneetown; three grandchildren, Andrew and Robbie Harmon of Bartelso and James Wood of Shawneetown; his mother, Ann Harmon of Shawneetown; four brothers, Tom (Jane) Harmon and Jim (Angela) Harmon of Shawneetown, John Harmon of Cave-In-Rock, and Joe (Nancy) Harmon of Belleville; and several nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Harmon.

Visitation for Bill will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2010, at the Cox and Son Funeral Home in Shawneetown. Funeral Mass for Bill will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shawneetown with Fr. Mark Stec officiating. Interment will follow at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery near Shawneetown.

In lieu of flowers you may make memorial donations in his memory to the Shawneetown American Legion.

You may leave a note of comfort to the family at the Internet site www.coxandson.com.