Lora Jean Harms, age 51, of Cole Camp, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022, at her home with her husband and family by her side, after a courageous 15-year battle with breast cancer. She was born on January 30, 1971, in an ambulance near Bahner, Missouri, a daughter of Larry and Francellia (Monsees) Ehlers.
She grew up in the Stover area, was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and graduated as valedictorian of the Stover High School Class of 1989. Lora then attended Central Missouri State University graduating Summa Cum Laude in May of 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
On June 13, 1992, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stover, she was united in marriage to Randy Harms. This union was blessed with the gift of three children: Drew, Josilyn, and Jenna.
After her college graduation, Lora worked in the business department of the Sedalia Democrat for 20-years, and was then employed in the accounting department at the Children’s Therapy Center in Sedalia until she was no longer able to work in the spring of 2022. She was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church near Cole Camp.
Her greatest joy in life was her children, whom she loved dearly, and enjoyed watching them grow up and going to all of their events, including various ball games too numerous to count, shopping with her daughters for any occasion, going to many different wineries with friends, and having many “wine weekends” with her husband and with friends.
Lora was thrilled and very thankful that she was able to see two of her children get married in the past few months. Through the last couple years, she grew to love her children’s four legged pets, and greatly looked forward to becoming a grandmother this fall.
She is survived by her husband, Randy Harms of the home; her parents, Larry and Francellia Ehlers of Stover; two daughters, Josilyn Hesse and her husband Vance of Cole Camp and Jenna Harms of the home; a son, Drew Harms and his wife Sarah of Springfield; two sisters, Lynelle Everts and her husband Chris of Leavenworth, Kansas, and Shellene Dore and her husband Kelly of Sedalia; a brother, Dayton Ehlers and his wife Jessica of Stover; a grandchild to be born this fall; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother-in-law Lavera Harms.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church near Cole Camp with Pastor Tyler Poppen officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery near Cole Camp.
A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church near Cole Camp, with visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Dayton Ehlers, Chris Everts, Kelly Dore, Stan Harms, Rusty Harms, Mike Harms, and Jim Miller.
The family suggests memorial contributions be given to Benton County Cancer Fund, Lutheran School Association, or Holy Cross Lutheran Church Cemetery Trust Fund in care of the Fox Funeral Home, Cole Camp.