Obituary of Charles Willis Harrison

Funeral Services for Charles Willis “John” Harrison of Elsberry, MO will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Stephen McLane, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church near Elsberry, will officiate with burial in New Hope Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Rob Murphy, Paul Reed, Andy Burkemper, Jon Sifuentes, Michael Harrison, II, Matt Harrison, Jordan Harrison, Daniel Reed, Christopher Gamblin and Bobby Romanchuk. Mr. Harrison, 89, passed away Monday afternoon, December 16, 2019 at Mercy Hospital Lincoln in Troy, MO. Born June 26, 1930 in Bates City, MO, he was the son of Willis Alden and Ethel Maude Barnett Harrison. John was a 1947 graduate of Mayview High School in Mayfield, MO. He served his country in the United States Army from September 8, 1948 until he was honorably discharged on September 11, 1951. John was united in marriage on March 8, 1952 in Mountain Home, AR to Beverly Jean Holloway. This union was blessed with four children: Robert, Cathy, Michael and Jeffery. John worked as a Systems Analyst for the United States Postal Service, retiring on August 31, 1985. He was a member of Elsberry VFW Post #9064 and American Legion Post #226. John was preceded in death by his parents, Willis and Ethel Harrison; two sisters: Thelma Kropt and Velma Spencer; and one granddaughter, Deanna Haven. Survivors include his beloved wife of 67 years, Beverly Harrison of Elsberry; their children: Bob Harrison and his wife, Joyce, of Elsberry, Cathy Dunlap and her husband, Charles, of Foley, MO, Mickey Harrison and his wife, Robin, of Elsberry and Jeffery Harrison and his wife, Melinda, also of Elsberry; twelve grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Friday, December 20, 2019 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.