Shirley Harman, the first of Lloyd and Juanita Phillips’ two children, was born in Hood River, Oregon on Independence Day 1938. Her brother Jack followed two years later.
The Phillips were a typical hard working and solid small town family. Mom and dad sent their children to Sunday school but at the time had no interest in attending church themselves. During that Sunday school experience, Shirley was challenged at the age of nine to receive Jesus as her savior. She said yes, she did want him to be her savior. But as she grew up and attended junior high and high school in Hood River, what happened in Sunday school became a low priority and somewhat distant memory. Activities at school and at home consumed her life. She was an excellent student, active in student government, loved sports and was even a cheer leader.
In the mid-1950s, Shirley met and married Bud Harman. They began a journey together with Bud’s work taking them across this country and as far away as Pakistan, while along the way raising their three children.
One of their first stops was in Weaverville California. There, they met a young couple, Ivon and Linda Bowers, who also had small children. They became lifelong friends. The Bowers were Southern Baptists from Texas so naturally, they invited Bud and Shirley to go to church with them. Through the ministry of that small Baptist church in Weaverville, Shirley accepted Christ as her savior, this time understanding that she was a sinner in need of salvation. She then fully understood that Jesus died in her place and that if she repented and trusted in his work on the cross, she could begin a new life in him. On February 28, 1958, she understood that accepting Christ meant she would die to the old life and begin a new one with a new heart and the assurance of everlasting life.
The Harmans moved several times but always stayed in touch with Ivon and Linda Bowers, being thankful for their willingness to reach out to them.
At each stop along that journey that ultimately brought the Harmans back to Portland, Shirley found ministry involvement in a local church. She taught Sunday school, was a youth counselor, deaconess, choir member. The list goes on. She was a humble servant and didn’t seek recognition. She wanted to serve her Lord.
Next stop after Northern California was a move to Seattle where Bud and Shirley joined McMicken Heights Baptist Church. There she enjoyed telling little children about Jesus. She was a master story teller and loved weaving the message of salvation into stories kids would listen to.
Bud’s next move took the family literally around the world to Pakistan. There they were involved with a group of junior high kids, but Shirley’s biggest love was working alongside missionaries in the area. She particularly enjoyed spending time with TEAM missionaries on the field and hosting them in her home for R&R.
From Pakistan, it was back to the States, this time San Francisco where Bud and Shirley were active members of Millbrae Baptist Church. Shirley sang in the choir and she and Bud served as High School Youth sponsors along with their life long friends “The Hudson Family Singers”. A highlight of that time was taking the high school group to Mt. Hermon in the Santa Cruz Mountains every summer.
Spartanburg, South Carolina was next on the Harman’s odyssey. Bud became human relations director for a company in Spartanburg recently acquired by the firm he worked for on the West Coast. The Harmans drove to nearby Greenville Sundays to attend church on the campus of Bob Jones University. The family then moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia. While attending Atlantic Shores Baptist Church, the pastor asked Bud and Shirley to start an adult Sunday school class. That turned into a spiritually rewarding experience for both Bud and Shirley. She proved to be a particular blessing to the women in that class.
It was while at Virginia Beach that God began leading the Harmans back to Oregon. Bud’s dad passed away in Portland, leaving his mother living alone. Both of Shirley’s parents in Hood River were facing health problems. Bud and Shirley prayed earnestly for God’s direction and he opened the door of opportunity for that to happen.
Shirley loved to read, cook and follow and participate in sports. She was an above average tennis player, golfer and bowler, and a passionate follower of the Trail Blazers, San Francisco 49ers and San Francisco Giants.
Her bible was her favorite book, one she read every day. She read every book written by John Grisham and Jan Karon. The ministries of Charles Stanley, Billy Graham and Adrian Rodgers as well as Hinson pastors Michael Lawrence and Geoff Chang and her beloved Sunday school teacher David Needham had immense impact on her spiritual pilgrimage.
According to Bud, she was an unbelievable cook and housekeeper. Her friends called her “Janitor in a Drum.” When the family needed extra money for their kids in college, Shirley took classes and became a medical assistant for two doctors. Earlier in their marriage, Shirley worked as a mechanical scheduler for United Airlines in San Francisco.
She was an amazing woman and loved by everyone who knew her.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Juanita Phillips. She is survived by her brother, Jack; husband Bud; children Ron (Colleen), Randall and Cathleen Lasater; grandchildren Brenton Harman, Drew Harman, Heather Bonner (Tyler), Taylor Harman, Megan Lasater and Braden Lasater, as well as great grandchildren Lailah and Bryleigh Bonner. Add to that list her beloved yellow lab Emma and kittens Sammie and Gracie.
There will be a memorial service on Monday November 18, 2013 2:00 PM at HINSON BAPTIST CHURCH, 1137 SE 20th Ave. Portland OR 97214 503-232-1156.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hinson Baptist Church, 1137 SE 20th Ave, Portland Or. 97214.