Doris Mae Sparks Harmon, age 94, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

She was born on October 29, 1931, in Avery County, NC. She was the daughter of the late Samuel Sparks and Nelia Sluder Sparks. She grew up "on the mountain" over the Toe River and often recalled childhood experiences of what it was like to live there during that time. She graduated from Cranberry High School and attended Appalachian State Teachers College in Boone, NC, the first person in her family to attend college. She met Howard Jessie Harmon at the Boone home of one of her sisters. They married in 1949 and later moved to Canton, Ohio where they began to raise a family.

As a young woman, Doris had several jobs outside the home but was primarily a homemaker and mother extraordinaire. She briefly taught second grade and later worked at Canton South High School before the family moved back to North Carolina in 1969. She worked in the Registrar's Office at Appalachian State University and after the family moved to the Asheville area, she transferred to the Registrar's Office at the University of North Carolina Asheville and became the Assistant Registrar. She and Howard, who also worked at UNCA, were beloved by the university community and there is an oak tree planted on campus in their honor designated "The Harmon Oak."

In addition to her parents, Doris was preceded in death by her husband of almost 72 years, Howard Harmon, and 13 brothers and sisters. She is survived by one brother, Charles Sparks and numerous nieces and nephews.  She is also survived by five daughters: Marilyn Byrd (Marvin), Ladonna Brawley (David), Marcia Harmon, Alicia Shope (Dale) and Andrea Wilson; six grandchildren: Meghan Woodlief (Bryan), Melissa Antaya (Mike), Adam Brawley, Matthew Duncan (Jen), John Wilson, Jami Rhode (Seth); and four great-grandchildren: Kaylee Woodlief, Cameron Woodlief, Ava Woodlief and Miles Rhode.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, February 15, 2026, at Trinity of Fairview Baptist Church in Fletcher, NC. Reverend Stacey Harris will officiate. Following the funeral the family will receive friends at a reception in the Family Life Center.  The family also will receive friends from 11:00AM until 12:00 PM on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in the chapel at Hampton Funeral Home in Boone, NC, ending with a brief memorial service officiated by Reverend Daniel Lawrence. A private burial will follow.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.hamptonfuneralnc.com

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service in charge of the arrangements.