Thursday, October 1, 2026
Lucille (Lucy) Franz Harms, 94, passed away peacefully March 19, 2026 in Leavenworth, WA at her residence in Mountain Meadows Assisted Living Center.
She was born October 16, 1931 in Odessa, WA, the sixth of nine children born to Julius and Agatha (Dyck) Franz. She grew up on the Franz family farm near Schrag, WA.
Lucy was baptized at Menno Mennonite Church near Ritzville, WA where she was married on June 8, 1952, to G. Lester Harms whom she met at Bethe College, N Newton, KS. Les and Lucy lived for the first four years of their marriage in Kansas City, KS, where Les attended the University of Kansas Medical School, and Lucy taught elementary school.
In 1964 they moved to Bellevue, WA, where Les began his radiology practice. They built a home in the woods in which they lived for fifty years. They enjoyed hosting and visiting their extended family, traveling to Barbados, and eventually grandparenting and visiting their son’s families.
Influenced by her father’s life of service and giving back, Lucy served twelve years on the Bethel College Board of Directors, volunteering countless hours with Ten Thousand Villages, supporting the annual Mennonite Country Auction, and teaching Sunday School.
Les passed away in December 2015. In 2018 Lucy moved to Mountain Meadows in Leavenworth, WA. For the next eight years, Lucy’s life was enriched in her new home by the loving care, attention, fun, and activities she experienced while at Mountain Meadows.
Lucy is survived by son Geoffrey and wife Diane of Wenatchee, WA; son Gordon and wife Paula of Rochester MN; grandson Brian and wife Lindsey and their daughters Rosemary and Mabel of Wenatchee; and grandson Michael and wife Jordan of Houston, TX. Brothers-in-law Paul Harms of N Newton, KS, and Craig Dorsing of Moses Lake, WA, as well as sister-in-law Dorothy Harms Loepp of Normal, IL. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Les Harms, her parents, Julius and Agatha Franz, as well as all of her siblings – Leonard Franz, Henry Franz, Marie Ewert, Viola Boese, Clara Reimer, Marlene (died in infancy), Lois Bartel, and Judy Dorsing.
A memorial service will be at Menno Mennonite Church on May 29, 2026 at 11:00
The family deeply appreciates the staff of Mountain Meadows professional manner along with the loving dedicated care they gave to meeting Lucy’s needs during her last weeks of life. The family would also like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the impressive hospice team, in particular Mary, for the supportive and loving care of Lucy and her family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Lucy’s name to one of the following:
Mountain Meadows Assisted Living Center, 320 Park Ave., Leavenworth, WA 98826
Mennonite Central Committee, PO Box 500, Akron, PA 17501
Trinity Church, 535 Okanogan Ave, Wenatchee, WA 98801
