Meghan Lynn Harmon

Meghan Lynn Harmon, 41, of Divernon, formerly of Litchfield, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2025.  Born in Springfield, Illinois December 22, 1983, she was the daughter of Robert Joseph and Beth (Hermsmeyer) Harmon. Meghan excelled in her educational endeavors and was a graduate of Litchfield High School with the class of 2002. She went on to attain several degrees, including Associate Degree in Secondary Education from Lincoln Land Community College in 2004; Bachelor of Arts in English in 2006 and Master of Arts in English in 2008, both from University of Illinois, Springfield; and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science in 2012 from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. She felt it was important to continue with many educational opportunities whenever possible.

In her professional capacity, Meghan used her education to teach young adults English and Humanities as an adjunct professor at Lincoln Land Community College. She then served as the Local History and Genealogy Reference Librarian at the Chatham Area Public Library District before taking the position of Reference Librarian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum where she earned the nickname “Megstar.” Meghan then worked for the Illinois Secretary of State at the Illinois State Library as a Library Program Specialist.

Meghan thrived off taking on challenges and doing things right. With her impeccable research and planning skills, she planned and made four trips with her high school sweetheart Greg to Iceland, traversing the island nation each time to seek out all its majesty. Alongside her husband, they've also hiked 10 miles of the Alaska wilderness, toured many of the National Parks in the Southwest, and taken in some of nature's most amazing caves. Together, the two have seen countless live concerts of their favorite groups all over the Midwest and beyond. Wonderful dinners and game nights with close friends were a regular occurrence. Holidays with her immediate family were also a must. Her love of books found her providing professional presentations about rare manuscripts and how the public can access a wealth of information from their local and state libraries.

Meghan also enjoyed bonding with her fellow honors students as part of International College Honor Society Phi Theta Kappa. She was involved in the Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library, volunteering and performing in a decade's worth of murder mystery fundraisers. When not busy training for a foot race, kayaking with her husband or taking in arts and culture, she enjoyed home renovation projects and making everything she touched so much better.

Meghan married her high school sweetheart, the love of her life, Greg Bishop, September 17, 2015, in Springfield. He survives. She is also survived by her parents, Bob and Beth Harmon, of Litchfield; her brother, Kyle R. Harmon of St. Peters, Missouri; paternal grandmother, Margaret Harmon of Hillsboro; her four-legged daughter figure, “Pause the Cat”; “The Honors Girls” Biz, Adrienne, Tiffer and Meesa; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Meghan was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Carl and Joyce (Satterlee) Hermsmeyer and paternal grandfather, William Harmon.

A celebration of Meghan’s life will be held at 12 noon on February 15, 2025, at the Illinois State Library, in the Atrium, located at 300 S. Second Street in Springfield. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A reception will follow at Arlington's, located at 210 Broadway in Springfield. 

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, please direct contributions to Friends of the Chatham Area Public Library, a cause near and dear to Meghan. 

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