Larry Dean Harrison

September 2, 2018

It is with great sadness that the family of Larry Harrison, age 81, and long-time resident of Stone Mountain, GA, announces his passing on Sunday, September 2, 2018 after a battle with pneumonia. Visitation will be on Saturday, September 8, 2018 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., followed by funeral services at the Carris Family Funeral Home in Perry, IA. Burial will be in Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry. Memorials in lieu of flowers to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Larry Dean Harrison was born on June 28, 1937 in Perry, IA to Paul Dean and Mildred (Black) Harrison. He lived on the family farm until moving to town at about 8 years of age and graduated from Perry High School in 1954. He joined the Air Force and was stationed for three years in Germany as a cryptographer. Returning to Perry he took a job with the local natural gas utility, embarking on a long sales career which took him to MN, WI, and GA. He often said that calling on his customers was more like visiting friends. He attended college at the University of Iowa at the same time as Helen Ann Nelson. They were united in marriage on May 20, 1962. He thought very highly of her parents, Ransome and Helen (Anderson) Nelson, always referring to them as the salt of the earth. Following the death of his sister Carolyn Stream in 1959, he maintained a strong connection with his brother-in-law Wendell Stream and nephew Douglas Stream as well as Wendell's second wife Donna (Lee) and their two daughters, JoLisa Lee (Shawn) Miles and Tresa Ann (Brad) Dietrich. He loved pheasant hunting, fishing in Canada, playing softball, tennis, cribbage, and in later years golfing with friends Lyle and Kay Helgerson and was a happy man when his Vikings and Braves won. Preceded in death by his son Michael Dean Harrison, sister Carolyn Stream, and brother-in-law Wendell Stream. Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, son Kurt, brothers in law Jim, John and Bill Nelson, sisters-in-law Karen (Larry) Taylor and Linda Nelson, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.