Daniel Earl Harford

Daniel Earl Harford, age 72, of St. Augustine, passed away on August 18, 2022 at Community Hospice at Baptist South in Jacksonville, FL. He was born on December 10, 1949 in Detroit, MI to parents David Earl and Theresa Mae (Graton) Harford and grew up in Redford Township, MI. In his late 20’s, he moved to Bradenton, FL with his family. In 1990, Daniel took simple vows to become a monk in the Benedictine Order at Saint Leo Abbey. He worked as kitchen master there when he met his wife to be, Terry Jo (Smith) Miller. They had a civil ceremony on July 14, 1992 in St. Augustine on the balcony of O.C. Whites and later had their marriage blessed on December 9, 1995 in the Cathedral Basilica. Dan had a passion for food and cooking and he worked at several restaurants until he felt called to help maintain the grounds and facilities at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church from 1997 to 2007. Dan was an avid reader as well as a gifted and tenacious writer. He had been writing and re-writing a saga for close to 40 years that his family affectionately coined "Monks in Space". One of his other works, “In the Shadow of an Object Hyperbole”, was recently self-published. He often said that his greatest wish when it came to his writing was only that his words would be enjoyed by others. He was inspired by his favorite author J.R.R. Tolkien. Dan was a very loving man but could also be a bit of a curmudgeon. He was passionate and intense in matters of peace and justice. His heroes were Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Dorothy Day, who helped to start the Catholic Worker Movement, of which he was a follower. His faith was very important to him. He loved serving and volunteering in various ministries. He was a lover of peace in all its forms. More than anything, Dan loved his family, and he will be missed very much. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by children, Marion Thomas Harford and Joseph Daniel "Joey" Harford; his brothers, David Michael Harford, Mark Kenneth Harford, and Richard Allen Harford. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Terry Jo Harford of St. Augustine; daughters, Mary Catherine Mallard and her husband Billy of Sarasota, FL, Anna Christine McCarty and her husband Steven of Orlando, FL; a son, David Owen Miller of Lakeland, FL; a sister, Christine Mary Cottrell of Bloomington, IN, and grandchildren, Alisa Mariah Mallard, Luna Corynn McCarty, and Arlo Owen McCarty. A memorial mass will be held at 9 am on Saturday, September 17, 2022 with Father Jeff Johnston officiating. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a charity that was near and dear to Daniel’s heart. Online condolences can be made at https://www.stjohnsfamilyfuneralhome.com/. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Daniel Earl Harford

December 10, 1949 - August 18, 2022