Ernest Ray Harmon

September 12, 1938 - November 24, 2021

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 27, 2021 in Holy Cross Catholic Church for Ernest Ray Harmon, 83, who passed away on November 24, 2021. Rev. Fr. Mario Romero, Pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Cemetery, 2111 Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, LA. Ernest “Bubba” R. Harmon, a resident of Lafayette, was the son of the late Ernest "Pot" Rupert Harmon and the former Anne Labbe. After graduating from AIC (now Opelousas Catholic) high school, he enlisted in the Navy for three years. While on the USS Hyman, he traveled the world and visited many countries. After serving his country, he married Sonja Mills and found work with Texaco and Yates Drilling Company in Houma, LA. A man of many talents, Ernest later moved his family back to Lafayette where he established his own auto mechanic shop, Automotive & Industrial Repairs. It was a labor of love. He taught his sons many life lessons while teaching them how to work on all types of cars and engines. His love for taking anything apart and putting it back together is now a dying art. He closed his shop in the 80’s to work for Cortez Motor Homes. When that closed, he reinvented himself yet again with his passion for photography and video making. He founded Memories on Video, where he was one of the first to create lasting memories for many couples in the Lafayette area by videoing weddings and preserving old memories for local families by transferring their old home movies to viewable formats. He was loved by many and fondly remembered for one of his most notable traits as a practical jokester. After he had long put his camera equipment to rest, his daughter pulled him out of retirement to assist in her window treatment business. They loved sharing that quality time together, and she continued to learn from him watching him work his magic in several aspects of installing and problem solving. He could repair anything and was very patient and careful to do it right the first time. He was “first class,” and it became one of his favorite sayings. Ernest was a strong yet gentle man and a great father and friend. He was always humble and kind. He was never known to take advantage of others. He was a determined and independent man who didn’t let anything affect his love for life. His zest for life flourished most during family gatherings, hunting, fishing, shrimping and just sitting around telling old stories. The struggles, suffering, and crosses his body endured throughout his life were masked beautifully by his humor, work ethic, love, and devotion he had for his family. His famous parting words were always “I’m glad you got to see me. The pleasure was all yours!” He loved his family immensely and will be dearly missed by all. He is survived by his wife Sonja, to whom he was married for of 62 years. Together they created a great legacy. He is also survived by his children, Kevin Harmon DDS, wife Lisa, Damon and wife, Janice, Shawn Harmon, Alicia Harmon, Rachel and her husband Neal Hensarling, Brandon and wife Rae, and sister Dona Harmon Livaudais. He leaves 16 grandchildren, and 6 great-grands. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand on Friday, November 26, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. A Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM on Friday evening in the funeral home. Visiting hours will continue Saturday, November 27, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 11:15 AM. Pallbearers will be Kevin Harmon, Damon Harmon, Shawn Harmon, Brandon Harmon, Joshua Arceneaux, Kyle Harmon, Richard Hensarling, and Matthew Hensarling. Personal condolences may be sent to the Harmon family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements