Patricia "Pat" Harms

Patricia Ann Templeton Harms, June 22, 1933 – March 13, 2025, was born in Schleswig, Iowa, to Eunice Stammer Templeton and William Templeton. She grew up in multiple Iowa small towns as her parents pursued their teaching careers, graduating from Atlantic High School. Pat was a talented athlete and would have excelled had girls’ sports been a more viable option in that era. She studied physical education at the University of Colorado in Boulder before reconsidering a more practical and economical course of study in nursing at the University of Iowa, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. There she met her husband of 67 years, Ronald Harms, at a church softball game where she caught his eye with her fielding ability. Thinking fast, he “accidentally” threw and hit her with a ball, apologized, and asked her out. There she also met classmates who became lifelong friends (along with their spouses), the “Crazy Eights” - wise women who valued their friendships and shared experiences over any differences in political outlooks over many decades. While Ron completed a 2-year tour of duty as a dentist aboard a US Navy ice breaker, Pat worked as a public health nurse in Seattle, WA and Stockton, CA. After Ron’s tour of duty, they settled in Laurens, Iowa. One reason they chose Laurens was based on an outdated Pocahontas County map that showed two large lakes – Swan Lake and Muskrat Lake - near town. Unfortunately, both lakes had long since been drained for agriculture. In Laurens, Pat worked as a dental assistant with Ron until they started a family, with the arrival of Shelley in 1958 and Craig in 1960. Once the children were both in school, Pat started working part time at the school library. She eventually became the full time Head Librarian at the Laurens Public Library, where she had a fulfilling career for 19 years. Pat was active in the local community, serving on the library board during eventful years when the town built a beautiful new library building, and two terms on the school board, where she was the board member who presented Shelley’s graduating class with their high school diplomas. Her sense of adventure led her family on many outdoor adventures, including multi-day backpacking trips in Colorado where she and Ron held up the tent in storms. Later, she and her dear friend Joyce Rigby spread their good cheer throughout Europe on their intrepid travels.

Ron and Pat spent much time driving back and forth between Iowa and Norfolk, Connecticut, to spend time with their grandchildren as they grew up, and then moved to Morehead City in 2009 following retirement. They found a dream house on Calico Creek with a beautiful back yard. Pat joined the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship, which was a great community for her.

Pat had a lifelong love of reading and could interject serious or comical literary references at appropriate times. One of her favorite doggerels that she would recite whenever this was served, was, “Sauerkraut is bully, I tell you it is fine. We make it in a barrel and we eat it all the time.” Her reading to her children from the time they were born set them on a similar trajectory. Pat enjoyed cartooning but was never satisfied with her artworks. She sent ideas to Bil Keane – he liked them and incorporated many into his Family Circus comic strip.

She was loved by many for her genuine interest in listening, and her sweet nature that she retained to the last.

Her family thanks the many dedicated caregivers she had in her later years and weeks at Carteret Landing, Carteret Health, and especially her home health aides before she moved to assisted living – Diane Dicks, Avis Shelton, Mayra Guthrie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00pm Saturday, March 15, 2025 at the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship of Morehead City. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Morehead City.

Pat is survived by her two children, Craig and Shelley (David Torrey) and her two grandchildren, Meredith and Daniel Torrey (Teresa). She sadly was pre-deceased by her beloved husband in 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Pat’s memory to the Laurens Public Library Foundation, 273 N. Third St., Laurens, IA 50554, or the Unitarian Coastal Fellowship, 2900 Bridges St., Morehead City, NC 28557.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noebrooks.net

Arrangements by Noe-Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC.