Russell David Harrison Jr., our loving husband & father, left this life at age eighty on January 6 2019 in Smithfield, Utah. He was born on January 23rd, 1938 in Hawthorne, California to Russell David and Hazel Charlotte Kincaid Harrison. The oldest of three children, sister, Charlene Virginia Harrison Dixon, and brother, Donald Robert Harrison.
A loving son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, Elder, High Priest, retired USAF Major and friend to all he met. When he was 18, he attended Brigham Young University with his good friend Larry Hamilton. He was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the summer of 1957.
He worked in the audio/visual aids department where he delivered film to be rewound & repaired by a cute red headed Brigham City girl. They attended the ROTC ball, where their courtship began. He was married to SharaLee Jeppsen in the Logan LDS temple on September 10, 1958.
David graduated in August of 1959 Bachelor of Arts with Teaching Certification, a commissioned first lieutenant in the United States Air Force & in 1999 a Master of Science in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. They are parents of 10 children; Leesa Ann (Michael), Paul David, Angela (Daniel), Charles Martin (Beth), Heidi Lee (Bobby), David Lorenzo (Carole), Christopher Michael (Rachel), Julianne (Douglas), Amy Sue (Jared), Mylinda Esther (Marshall), and 43 Grandchildren, and 19 great grandchildren. The Air Force moved the family around the United States six times.
David retired to Colorado where he spent 10 years in the aerospace industry. His second retirement was to Brigham City, Utah where they restored an old Victorian home (they cherished that home for over 20 fabulous years). At this point in their lives they had four children and both elderly Mothers to help & care for: Chris, Julie, Amy & Mylinda, Edna Jeppsen & Hazel Harrison.
David was an avid bicyclist and an airplane enthusiast. Days were spent riding for charities, building model airplanes, working as a volunteer at the Hill Air Force Museum, register at the Brigham City Temple, and delivering Meals on Wheels. He spent many years working in the Brigham City family history center with his sister, Charlene; which became the highlight of his week.
Every Saturday during the summer, he would go to Promontory with Richard Felt to reenact the driving of the Golden Spike. He loved being a part of this production. One of his great joys was being in the service of his fellow beings, especially his family.
The gospel meant everything to him and he was a great example of our Savior in all his dealings with others. David and SharaLee served two missions, Bilbao, Spain (2000) and Vavau, Tonga (2004) where they made eternal friendships with those they served. Condolences can be offered Friday evening, January 11th, 6-8, at Myers Mortuary in Brigham.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday Jan 12th at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on 175 South 100 West, Smithfield, Utah at 11:00 a.m. (Condolences will be received at 10:00 am). Interment in Smithfield, Utah Cemetery. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to the CNS Hospice staff.
Their kindness in providing for the needs of our Father far exceeded any of our expectations. We were daily witnesses to earthly angels as Robert and Mike worked their magic with Dave.
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