John "Jack" R. Harison

John “Jack” R. Harison, age 92, of Evansville, IN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 3, 2022.

Jack was born February 26, 1930, in Rawlins, WY, to Richard N. and Mary L. (Hays) Harison. His family moved to Laramie, WY, when he was three years old. He graduated from Laramie High School in 1948 where he lettered in both track and tennis. As a teenager, he loved spending time at his grandparents’ ranch along the Little Snake River Valley in Southern Wyoming. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army. He spent one year in Fort Lewis, WA. He later enrolled in the University of Wyoming where he was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, serving one year as President. Jack joined the ROTC in 1950 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant Infantry in 1952. Upon his graduation from the University of Wyoming in 1953 with his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, he re-entered the Army and attended Officer’s Training School in Fort Riley, KS, and Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where he met his future wife and mother of his children, Carol Elaine Bourne, from Mount Vernon, MO.

After returning from Mount Vernon, MO, Jack managed the Student Union at the UW from 1956-1961, at which time he was recalled to active duty and moved with his wife and three children to Fort Lewis, WA. Upon their return to Laramie, he helped in the opening and operation of the Brown N’ Gold Restaurant and Sales Store. The business sold after three years, and in 1966, he once more moved his family to New Orleans, LA, where he had accepted a job at the University of New Orleans. He remained at UNO until his retirement in 1990 as Assistant Vice Chancellor of Auxilary Enterprises. In addition, Jack retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army Reserves. He spent the next twenty years traveling the world from Nepal to the South Pacific to Europe, Japan, and Hong Kong. In 2013, and until his passing, he resided in Evansville, IN, where his son, Casey, lived.

The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and staff at Heart to Heart Hospice Respite Center in Evansville for their incredible care and concern for Jack. “We could not have done it without their guidance and support, nor could Dad have passed in such peace and tranquility. Hours before passing, Dad told us he was happy.”

Jack is survived by his three children, Suzy Faucheux (Brian), Dr. Casey Harison (Patricia), and Sally Henk (Eddie); grandchildren, Shane Magee (Leslie) and Dr. Rayne Schexnayder (Marc); great grandchildren, Max and Laila Magee, Quinn and Maren Schexnayder.

Jack is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mary Harison; wife of 25 years, Carol Harison; and sister, Patricia H. Emerson.

A Private Family Memorial will be held at a later date.

Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue, Evansville, IN, is handling the arrangements and is honored to serve the family of Jack Harison. The family invites you to share fond memories, thoughts, and condolences online at boonefuneralhome.net

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