Melton Harms

Melton Harms was born July 31, 1944 in Borger, Texas and went to be with his Lord on May 10, 2021, surrounded by family. Service: 2:00 P.M. Friday, May 14, 2021 at White’s Funeral Home in Springtown. 401 N. Main, 76082. Visitation: 1:00 P.M. to service time Friday at the Funeral Home. Interment: Springtown Cemetery, Springtown. He was the fourth generation of Harms’ to make their living from agriculture, dating back some 115 plus years. Melton’s family moved east of Springtown in 1947 to what is now the family farm. The Harms family was involved in dairy, beef and pork production, and row crop farming. Melton was very proud to be a steward of the land. Melton has always been a passionate agriculturist, an advocate of livestock production, and farming as a whole and satisfying way of life. While growing up on his family’s successful dairy farm, Melton was President of both his FFA Chapter and of his Senior Class. After working off the farm for a short while, Melton and Mary returned home to the farm in 1969. They bought their first set of Duroc hogs in 1970 and continued in the dairy business until 1987. The following year they incorporated Beefmaster cattle into the swine and farming operation. During this time Melton served as a 4-H leader, a board member on the Springtown School Board, and as President of the Parker County Dairy Producers. Melton was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Springtown. There he served as the Lord’s Acre fund drive Financial Chairman and displayed his many talents as he served the Lord. Melton used his positive attitude and down-to-earth demeanor to bring people together and promote constructive contributions to agriculture 4-H and FFA programs. Most recently, Melton saw a need to have more water available for youth at the Parker County Livestock Show because a new barn had been built. His idea was to collect rainwater as a solution and brought the idea to the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District. Melton said that it made sense to catch water and use it for a later date. Working with the Upper Trinity, a new 65,000 gallon water tank was built to serve the youth. The project was ultimately recognized by the Texas Water Development Board and received a 2020 Texas Rain Catcher Award. Melton dedicated his life to the betterment of livestock, efficiency of farming, and general welfare of the rural population. His journey put him in many leadership positions. He served as President of the North Texas Pork Producers, President of Texas Pork Producers, Federation Council of National Pork Producer Council, Swine and Dairy Superintendent of the PCLIA, and Parker County Soil and Water Conservation District Chairman. Melton has also been part of some amazing honors, including being recognized, along with his family, by the PCLIA for showing livestock for 50 years. Together with his wife Mary, Melton was also inducted into the Texas Pork Hall of Honor by the Texas Pork Producers, where the honor is on display at Texas A&M University. Also, there are many All Americans, Grand Champions, belt buckles, banners, and picture-worthy hand-shaking moments too numerous to list. Melton Harms is preceded in death by his mother and father, W.C. and Alma Ruth Harms; and brother, Wendell Harms. Melton is survived by his loving partner of 60 years, Mary Woody Harms; daughter, Alicia Harms Ellis and Randy Ellis; son, Ronnie Harms and Tara Harms; brother, Dennie Harms, grandchildren Jocelyn Harms and David Greider, Chase and Lauren Harms, Cherie Ellis Ortega and Noel Ortega, Mandy Ellis Irizarry and Rudy Irizarry, Lukas Ellis and Melanie Eischeid; great grandchildren, Eliana. Kai, Adelyn, Zeke, Aiden, and Tucker; plus many nieces, nephews and friends. Melton Harms – a man with integrity, longevity, a stockman, a man to depend on, a friend to all.