Obituary of Harvey Harrison

Harvey HarrisonHarvey Emberton Harrison of Eugene died April 22 of age-related causes. He was 96. No service is planned.He was born Jan. 10, 1914, in Spiderbridge, Ark., to John and Rosa Emberton Harrison. He married Vianga “Vi” Zettl on 1946. She died in 2007.He served as a technical sergeant of combat engineers during World War II, fought from Normandy to the Elbe River, including the Battle of the Bulge. He fought forest fires, including the “Tillamook burn.” He worked for the Eugene School District for more than 40 years, where he drove tractors and created and maintained school playing fields.Survivors include a sister, Dorothy Dirksen of Hutchinson, Kan.; two half-brothers, William Fairley and Wayne Fairley, both of Arkansas; two half-sisters, RoseLea Davis of Arkansas and Nancy Thomas of Farmington, Ark.Burial will be at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland. Arrangements by Musgrove Family Mortuary in Eugene. Remembrances to the Eugene Mission.Harvey Emberton Harrison was born January 10, 1914, in Spiderbridge, Arkansas, to John O. and Rosa Frances Emberton Harrison. He passed to his rest on April 22, 2010, in Eugene, Oregon. "Knight of the Road", he hopped freight trains and traveled the country. He fought a number of forest fires (including the infamous "Tillamook Burn"); was a member of the Pre-World War II Horse Artillery; a cowboy at the famous Beeks Hereford Ranch in Wyoming; Technical Sergeant of Combat Engineers in World War II, he fought from Normandy to the Elbe River including the Battle of the Bulge. In 1946, he married Vianga LuLu Zettl; to their great regret they were unable to have children. Harvey was employed by the Eugene School District for more than 40 years, where he drove tractor, created and maintained school playing fields, among many other tasks. He is survived by a sister, Dorothy Lea Dirksen, Hutchinson, Kansas; half-brothers: William Fairley and Wayne Fairley; half-sisters RosaLea Davis and Nancy Thomas; and many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife; brothers: Jimmy Lee Harrison, John Harrison and Bailey Harrison, and infant twin brothers; also one sister, Seritha Harrison North. Harvey was one of a great number of honest, hardworking and often courageous, Americans who contributed to making our country what it is today...he shall be missed.