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FANCY PASTRY SHOP
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| Donald Phillips Harrison February 26, 1933 - December 03, 2022 |
Donald Phillips Harrison passed away on December 3, 2022, in Davidson County, NC.
He was born on February 26, 1933, to Beatrice Cranford Harrison and Cecil Albert Harrison in High Point, NC. A lifelong passion began as a boy raising dogs and hunting with his father and brother (Kent).
He earned a reputation as an outstanding varsity baseball player during his four years at High Point High School. Upon graduation in 1951, Coach Simeon offered Don an assistant coaching job. That year he also won the top award in mathematics.
Instead of joining the coaching staff, Don accepted a full-time job in 1951 with Dr. McClain, a veterinarian in High Point.
In 1953, he was drafted into the United States Army selecting the infantry division in El Paso, Texas. While in the army, he played the baseball position of short stop for several minor league baseball teams and was offered a contract with El Paso Diablos. He declined the contract and headed home to High Point where his fiancée, Mary Willard, had just completed her training as a Registered Nurse. He was honorably discharged from the army in February 1955. His mother was overjoyed that the Korean War had ended two weeks before Don was scheduled to fly to Korea.
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On July 15, 1955, Don and Mary were married at Oakview Methodist Church in High Point.
Don began his career in 1955 with Western Electric, which later became a part of AT&T.
He enrolled in 19 months of technical engineering training. His job was in quality control, which involved math and preciseness. He retired in 1989. Mary continued her career in oncology from 1954-1994.
In North Carolina, Don was known for his expertise with acquiring and training rabbit dogs.
In the 1960s, Don and Mary designed their home along with a well-equipped doghouse that accommodated as many as thirty dogs in a pristinely clean building. After retiring, he acquired some acres for hunting in the mountains and eventually began hunting deer as well as rabbits.
The most important influence in Don’s life was his mother who believed in love, forgiveness, and hard work. He inherited her calmness, optimism, and perseverance. Don’s father was also influential as a US Army veteran of WWI.
Don was proud of his ancestors who were mostly farmers from the Cranford clan in Denton, NC. From the 1950s to the 1990s, he raised vegetable gardens and shared the produce with his neighbors. He visited the best of family-owned orchards in Virginia where he purchased bushels of apples and peaches each year to give to his extended family members.
For many decades Don and Mary were faithful members of Mt. Olive United Methodist Church in Lexington, NC. This is the appropriate charity for anyone who wishes to honor Don Harrison.
Don was preceded in death by his parents and his two siblings, Evelyn Harrison Durst, and Beron Kent Harrison.
Don is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary Willard Harrison. Their steadfast love and dedication is a shining example of what true love means. They were both dedicated to God, family, and country with service to others. Don is also survived by several members of the Willard and Cranford families. Among his nieces and nephews are his primary assistants Cherl T. Harrison, and Harry Durst. A memorial service will be postponed and announced later. Davidson Funeral Home in Winston Salem, NC is helping the family.
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Donald Phillips Harrison, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.
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