Clifford Ray Harnish, age 79, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 7, 2026 surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on November 13, 1946, he was the son of Grover and Verna Harnish of Mercersburg, PA.
Throughout his 79 years, he lived a life that reflected strength, perseverance, humility, and a deep commitment to the people and things he loved. Clifford was a devoted husband, loving father, proud grandfather, and treasured friend. He was a man who believed in working hard, taking care of his family, keeping his word, and making the most of every day God gave him.
He was a farmer at heart.
The farm was not simply where he worked—it was a part of who he was. He knew what it meant to rise early, work long days, get his hands dirty, and keep going when the work was difficult. He took pride in caring for the land and everything entrusted to him.
There was always something that needed to be done around the farm, and he was always the one willing to do it. Whether he was working in the fields, repairing equipment, tending to the cows, fixing something that had broken down, or simply finding another project to tackle, he found purpose in hard work. His hands were rarely still.
Those same hands that worked the soil also held the hands of his wife, hugged his children, held his grandchildren, helped a friend, and served his country. His life was a testimony to the dignity of honest work and the importance of providing for and protecting the people you love.
Before dedicating himself fully to his family and the farm, he proudly served his country in the 9th Infantry Division serving in the Mekong Delta for the United States Army. Clifford was a Vietnam War veteran. He answered the call to serve when his country needed him and carried with him the courage, sacrifice, discipline, and sense of duty that came with wearing the uniform. His family will forever be grateful for his service and for the sacrifices he made on behalf of his country. He understood what it meant to serve something greater than himself. That same spirit of service followed him throughout his life—not only in his service to his country, but in the way he cared for his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and the people around him.
He was married to Vesta (Keefer) Harnish for 58 beautiful years. Fifty-eight years of marriage represents more than a number. It represents a lifetime of choosing one another, standing beside one another, raising a family, working through difficult days, celebrating good days, sharing laughter, making memories, and growing old together. And although there is now an earthly separation, the love they shared does not end here. His family can take comfort in knowing that he is now in the presence of the One who gave him that love in the first place.
Clifford was a loving father to: Kevin Harnish, of Mercersburg; Kimberly (Mark) Stotler, of Mercersburg, and Kristal (Terry) Pence, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania. His children knew him as a hardworking man who often taught more through his example than through his words.
Clifford’s grandchildren brought him a special kind of joy. He was the proud grandfather of:Madisen Stotler, of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania; Savannah Pence, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Nicolette Pence, of Greencastle and Trentyn Pence, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania.His grandchildren held a special place in his heart.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Grover and Verna Harnish and his father and mother-in-law Merle and Grace Keefer. He was preceded in death by his son, Kirby David Harnish and siblings, Edna Pittman, Clarence Harnish, Eleanor Barnhart and Larry Harnish.
Clifford loved the simple pleasures of life. He loved farming, hunting, fishing, and working around the farm. He loved being outdoors and enjoyed the peace that came from working the land, being in the woods, working on the machinery, planting the garden, or simply taking care of things around the farm. He didn’t need much to be happy. All he needed was a day on the farm, a nice buck to shoot, a fish to catch, a mushroom to find, a deck of cards to play, and time with his family. These were the things that brought him happiness. Clifford understood something that is easy to forget: some of life’s greatest blessings are found in the simplest moments.
Though his hands will no longer work the fields, repair something around the farm, feed a cow or help take down that big buck, the work of his life continues through the people he loved. The farm may be a little quieter now. The chair where he sat may be empty. His voice may no longer be heard calling from across the yard. But the love he gave and the memories he created will live on forever.
There may be moments when his family will look for him, expecting to see him working somewhere nearby. There will be birthdays, holidays, family gatherings, hunting seasons, and ordinary days when his absence will be especially noticeable. But even in those moments, his family can remember that his story did not end.
He is with Jesus.
He is resting eternally with God. And the God who carried him through 79 years of life is now carrying him safely into eternity.
A viewing will be 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026 at Fries Funeral Home in Mercersburg, PA.
The funeral service will be 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, at Mount Zion Lutheran Church on Little Cove Road, Mercersburg, PA.
Arrangements by Fries Funeral Home Inc., Mercersburg, PA
To send flowers to the family of Clifford, please visit the floral store.
