Albert Ernest “Ernie” Harms, 92, longtime Thayer resident, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute, where he entered Monday morning.

He had been in failing health. His body was bequeathed to the University of Kansas Medical Center.

He was born on Sept. 1, 1918, to Albert H. and Ada (Yoakum) Harms. When he was 4 years old, his family returned to Thayer, where they had previously lived. He graduated from Thayer High School in 1934.

For many years he worked as a dairy farmer. Later he was manager of the Parsons Grain Terminal and then the J and H Grain Co. in Thayer. He then operated Harms Barn in Thayer, dealing in imports.

He was a member of the Thayer United Methodist Church. He was a life member and past master of Thayer Lodge No. 149, A.F. & A.M. and also had served as a district deputy for the Grand Lodge of Kansas. He was a member of Erie Chapter No. 136, Order of Eastern Star. On Feb. 13, 1945, he and Vera Stafford were married at Garnett. She survives.

Other survivors include brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, Raymond and Jane Stafford and Inie Rue Stafford, all of Lenexa; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

An infant sister preceded him in death

Memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Thayer United Methodist Church. Burial will be at a future date at the Morehead Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Thayer United Methodist Church and may be left at or sent to the Carson-Wall Funeral Home at Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.