Geraldine P. Harmon, 85

SOUTH PORTLAND — Geraldine P. Harmon, 85, of Portland, formerly of Landry Village of South Portland, died Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Seaside Nursing Home.

She was born on Jan. 30, 1929 in Portland. She was the last surviving child of Ralph Stuart Rutter and Bernice Louise Hatch Rutter. Geraldine grew up in East Deering and attended local schools in Portland.

Geraldine lived in Portland, South Portland, Scarborough and for a few years in Tampa, Fla. She was a wonderful homemaker, and the mother of six children. She loved to cook for large crowds that included her family and friends. She loved traveling and visiting her children wherever they lived from Maine to Florida, Ohio, Oregon, California, Washington, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont. She loved to lay in the sunshine anywhere, but especially at a beach. She also traveled to London, England where her ancestors were from. Geraldine loved to plant, grow and photograph flowers and was a skilled gardener. She thoroughly enjoyed the Rose Gardens in Portland, Ore. and in San Francisco, Calif. Her Saturday night baked beans and red hot dogs were famous and were known as “wicked good” with family and friends.

She was well known as “Mom,” “Nana,” “Jellybean” and “Auntie” to many outside of her immediate family. Geraldine enjoyed her morning paper with a cup of coffee and a cigarette while enjoying her flower garden. In recent years at Seaside, she loved her daily visits with Frances, Monarae, Mary Ann and many other friends at Seaside who loved her as well.

She was predeceased by her parents; two sisters, Marion Rutter and Jeanette Elwell; and two brothers, Francis Hatch and Kenneth Rutter.

Geraldine is survived by four daughters, Linda D. Jordan of Portland, Susan L. Moore of Raymond, Karen L. Nadeau of Gorham and Lisa C. Vallerie of Gorham; two sons, Walter E. Harmon IV of Somersworth, N.H. and Timothy P. Harmon of Portland; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held Wednesday, followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service at Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Westbrook. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.ctcrawford.com

Those desiring may make donations to: Kidney Foundation of Maine, 470 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04104.