TRIBUTE
HAZEL HENLEY HARMON

Hazel Henley was born on May 9, l916. Hazel would say she was named after a nut! The 6th child of DeWitt and Cenie Henley, she grew up in the mountains of North Carolina. She loved swimming and the outdoors. Those who knew her as a child would often smile at the memory of one scrape or another she got herself into-like the time she tried to paint her black friend white with shoe polish so that they could get into the circus together.

Her father was a conductor for the railroad, and Hazel had many railroad stories to tell. Her father's death when she was 14 was a huge loss for her because she was very close to her dad. Though her earthly father was gone, Hazel had a true personal relationship with her heavenly Father and He directed her life in dramatic ways. Hazel wanted to attend finishing school. By God's directing of circumstances she had met the president of Palmer College while a young teen, working at a camp. He told her to come to Palmer when she was old enough, but she said her family would never have the finances for that. He said she should let him know, and they would work something out. So Hazel went to Palmer College in DeFuniak Springs, FL. She was especially thrilled that this town had a lake where she could continue to train for her life's dream of being a professional diver. While at Palmer, she met Evangelist Mel Trotter, and subsequently he was led of God to offer her a scholarship to Moody Bible Institute. Shortly before Easter God spoke to her about giving even her body completely to Him. She responded by publicly dedicating her body to the Lord. During Easter break, Hazel went swimming and diving with friends, and tragedy struck as she broke her back and neck. Lying on the sand by the lake, she saw the hand of God signing the contract she had made with Him. God miraculously spared her life and restored her body. As Hazel headed for Chicago and Moody Bible Institute she still could not turn her head very much, but her recovery was amazing.

The Harmon family story began at Moody as Gene Harmon and Hazel Henley met and fell in love. Hazel doubted her sanity as she fell for this older Yankee farm boy. Mother said she was a teenager before she knew that "Yankee" was one word! God's leading them together was clear and they were married in l936 in Charlotte NC. Mom's family and friends believed she was moving to the end of the earth when they left for SD-everyone thought she would freeze to death, and they were given many blankets as wedding gifts!

The story of their life together--from the days of the American Sunday School Union's circuit-riding ministry to the birth and growth of Byron Bible Camp --could fill a book. The big events in Mom's private life were giving birth to 8 children, and witnessing God supplying all needs including overwhelming medical expenses for one baby and comfort in the death of the oldest son. Many, many people, not related to Hazel, referred to her as "mother of us all". If you don't know what this means, ask one of the 30 young people who lived for one to six years in the Harmon home, or the hundreds of youth who worked at Byron Bible Camp. Hazel had a love for fun and a zest for living that was not hindered by meager finances. Prayer and trust marked her life. She had a burning desire that her children and all she contacted know Jesus. Her joy in the later years was seeing her children walk with God.

When Gene died in 1971, Hazel's life-long habit of trusting God for each day brought her and all of us through with joy. Her role at Byron Bible Camp changed, but the Camp was never far from her heart. As mom moved to Huron she still didn't take it easy. She worked at Huron Nursing Home and went back to college; getting her degree in Gerontology at age 63-What fun we had cheering at her Graduation from Huron College in 1979! Mother got a bigger cheer than did the speaker George McGovern!

The last years of Mom's life have been difficult to watch, for us who love her. We are confident that all the while she has eagerly longed to be with Jesus; she has gained her day-to-day strength from the steadfast God whom she so willing served.

Today we cheer at another Graduation! We bless the Lord for taking her home and we PRAISE HIM for her life and its immeasurable impact on ours.