Electa Marian Harmon

Electa Marian Metzger Harmon, age 69, of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving family on November 14, 2022, after an extended struggle with dementia. A Point Clear native, Electa loved life and all the beauty that it held. She relished her simple childhood, whether enjoying a carefree ride on her horse Felix, or swimming with her father and siblings in Mobile Bay. There was never a sunset whose beauty she failed to appreciate. Each time she saw a rainbow she marveled at God’s handiwork. Electa completed her Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology at the University of Montevallo in 1975, obtaining her Master of Arts in Speech Pathology at the University of Memphis in 1978. She spent over twenty years working in the field of speech pathology, aiding countless children in developing their confidence and communication skills. Her patience, love, and gentle determination were catalysts for transformation in every child who walked through her door. Decades after they left her classroom, parents and students alike continued to express their gratitude for the impact she had on their lives. In the course of her studies at Montevallo, Electa met her husband, Steve, and they were married in 1974. During their 48 years of marriage, they joyfully welcomed three children into their world: Tyler, Marian, and Sarah Gwen. During those years, Electa was the picture of love, generosity, and kindness within her family. The words of Proverbs 31 were read one Sunday, years ago during Mass, prompting Steve to glow with love and admiration as he glanced over at her: “Charm is deceptive; beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Her children counted themselves blessed beyond belief to have the example of such a mother in their lives. Her constant prayer for her family can be read in a book inscription she wrote, dated January 13, 2006: “May God bless you grandly! May He give you peace, joy and wisdom in His great love for you.” Steve, Electa and their children, though very human and still on the journey, were united in their pursuit of generous and unconditional love. At the time of her death, they were closer than they had ever been, woven together in a way that only grace can explain. Electa had an incredible vision for restoration and renewal which she shared with her family, leading them on an adventure of renovating her childhood dream house: an early 1900s Craftsman home in a state of significant disrepair. Disregarding countless admonitions to avoid this monstrous task, her hands spent innumerable hours on every inch of their new dwelling. She and Steve collaborated with her parents, and other volunteers from their Church to make their unique and magnificent vision a reality. These favors, willingly poured out by those who loved her and her family, were gratefully repaid in two of Electa’s favorite languages: food and quality time. Not only was she gracious in receiving assistance she was also endlessly compassionate to friends and strangers in any area of need. She served on the Bereavement Committee at St. Lawrence Catholic Church for numerous years, until her illness prevented her from continuing to give of herself in this ministry. She brought delicious food and Christ’s peace to people in mourning, sustaining their hungry souls and bodies. Whether she was transforming lives in the classroom, in her family, in her parish or community, Electa’s foundational and defining characteristic in every setting was humility. She never sought recognition, attention, or appreciation for what she did; she sought only to serve and embody the words of St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta: “I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” In this submission she succeeded. As Electa’s dementia worsened in the later stages, she fought with determination against discouragement, resolving to accept God’s will. In her favorite book, Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Electa had underlined these words, years before her dementia had taken hold: “…our holiness is measured by our love of God, and it increases in proportion to the growth of our desire to obey his will and his plans for us no matter what they are.” Her disposition in the duration of her ten-year trial was characterized by this loving acceptance of every suffering as coming from the hands of God, her Father. Bitterness could not be found in her. Kindness, love, and gratitude shone forth from her eyes when her mouth could no longer form words. In the latter years of her illness, she would raise her arms, and join in with Steve’s choir at Mass, praising God with unashamed cries of praise and love. To see her was to see joy where there should have been sorrow, patient hope when she should have been crushed by affliction, and unwavering love when self-pity and anger could have easily been excused. Her husband, children, friends, and strangers looked on in awe as she pressed on in spite of the crushing. They experienced, in her, the truth of Jesus’ words, ‘unless a grain of wheat fall to the ground and die, it remains alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.’ The fruit of her sufferings, truly united with the sufferings of Christ, will continue to unfold in the coming years, as many who knew her strive to live their lives in like manner, giving witness to God’s love, kindness and faithfulness, no matter what life presents. Electa was preceded in death by her father and mother, John Yancey Metzger and Marian Barker Metzger. She is survived by the following: her husband, Steve; their children Tyler, Marian (Steven) Hall, and Sarah Gwen; her grandchildren, Electa Marian Hall, Mae Louise Hall, Gwendolyn Joy Hall, Elizabeth June Hall, and Josie-Anne Harmon Hall; her siblings, John (Rose) Metzger, Robin (Michael) Hutchison, and Bryan Metzger. Those of us still here on earth now have a powerful advocate above, interceding for us in our remaining journey. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Saturday, November 19, 2022, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church at 11:00am. The family will receive friends for visitation beginning at 9:30a.m. Burial will follow the funeral service at Colony Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Masses to be said for the repose of her soul, or donations to be made in her memory to one of her favorite charities, listed below: Priests for Life: Donate to Priests for Life Mary’s Meals: General Donation Form - Mary's Meals USA (thankyou4caring.org) Association of the Miraculous Medal: AMM-Association of the Miraculous Medal Donation American Life League: Donate to American Life League today! (revv.co) ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO RD. FAIRHOPE AL. 36532 (251) 990-7775