Losing someone is heavy. It's that sudden, hollow weight in your chest that makes even the simplest tasks, like looking up a service time, feel like climbing a mountain. If you’re searching for harmer funeral home obits, you’re likely looking for more than just a date and time. You’re looking for a way to say goodbye or a piece of a story that’s recently come to a close in the Shinnston area.
Honestly, the way we handle death in small West Virginia towns is different. It’s personal. Harmer Funeral Home has been part of the Shinnston landscape since before the Civil War—1852, to be exact. When a business has been in the same family for six generations, the obituaries they publish aren’t just notices. They are local history.
How to Find Harmer Funeral Home Obits Online
Most people start with a panicked Google search. That’s normal. But if you want the most accurate, up-to-the-minute information, the best place to go is directly to the source.
The Harmer Funeral Home website maintains a dedicated "Obituary Listings" section. It's updated almost as soon as a family approves the draft. You’ll find the big names people are looking for right now, like Gary Anthony Pulliam or Paulette Sue Chucci.
The site is pretty straightforward. You can filter by:
- The last 30, 60, or 90 days (helpful if you’re catching up on news).
- Name search (if you're looking for someone specific from a few years back).
- Current vs. Past Services (so you don't accidentally show up to a church a week late).
One thing that's actually kinda cool—and I use that word loosely given the context—is their "Tribute Archive" or "Book of Memories." It isn't just a wall of text. It’s a space where you can virtually light a candle, upload a photo, or leave a "Tribute Gift."
Why Shinnston Families Rely on These Records
In a place like Harrison County, an obituary is a social thread. You read them to see who survived who. You look for the mentions of the "Swisher Hill Community" or "Bethesda Baptist Church."
Jay D. Harmer, who is the fifth-generation licensee-in-charge, and Jacob Harmer (the sixth generation) treat these records with a level of care you just don't get with corporate-owned funeral chains. They know that for many families, the obituary is the last "official" thing ever written about their loved one.
The harmer funeral home obits often include deep-cut local details. You’ll see mentions of high school graduations from decades ago, work histories at the local mines or glass factories, and specific requests for donations to local libraries, like the Lowe Public Library.
Common Misconceptions About Local Obits
People often think that if an obituary isn't in the Times West Virginian or the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, it doesn't exist. That’s not true anymore.
A lot of families are skipping the $500 newspaper fee and going digital-only. If you can't find a name in the Sunday paper, check the Harmer "Past Services" tab. It’s usually there. Also, don't forget Legacy.com. They partner with Harmer to syndicate these notices, which is great for out-of-town relatives who need to set up flower deliveries or plant memorial trees.
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Making Sense of the Service Details
When you're looking at harmer funeral home obits, the terminology can get confusing if you aren't familiar with funeral traditions.
- Visitation/Viewing: This is the "wake." Harmer usually holds these at their 300 Pike Street location. It’s the time to go if you want to talk to the family.
- Committal Service: This is the short bit at the cemetery. If the obit says "private committal," don't follow the hearse to the graveyard.
- In Lieu of Flowers: If you see this, the family is asking you to spend that money on a charity instead. Respect it.
What to Do If You Can't Find an Obituary
Sometimes there’s a delay. A death might occur on a Friday night, but the obit won't go live until the family meets with the director on Monday.
If you're looking for a historical record—say, an ancestor from the early 1900s—the website won't help you much. For that, you’d want to look at the Shinnston Historical Association or the Harrison County West Virginia Historical Society. The Harmer family has deep roots here; Benjamin Harmer started as a coffin maker in a wagon shop. Those old records are often tucked away in physical archives or on microfilm at the local library.
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Practical Steps for Using These Records
If you are currently looking for information on a recent passing, here is what you should do:
- Check the Official Site First: Go to the Harmer Funeral Home "Obituary Listings" page. It is the most reliable source for service times and location changes (like if a funeral moves from the home to a specific church).
- Use the Tribute Tools: If you can’t make it to Shinnston, use the "Book of Memories" to leave a note. Families actually read these weeks later when the initial shock wears off and the house gets quiet.
- Verify the Location: Harmer serves a wide net—Enterprise, Worthington, Lumberport, and even into Marion County. Make sure the service isn't at a remote chapel before you start driving.
- Order Flowers Early: If you're going through the website's sympathy store, do it at least 24 hours before the visitation to ensure the arrangement actually makes it to the room.
Finding a name in the harmer funeral home obits is never a happy occasion, but having the right info can at least make a hard week a little bit easier to navigate.
Actionable Next Step: If you need to find a specific service time right now, navigate to the Harmer Funeral Home website and select the "Current Services" tab. This will give you the most accurate schedule for visitations and funerals occurring in the next 48 to 72 hours.