Thursday, November 23rd, 2023.
Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Richard G. Harrison and Edwin Harrison, as well as his brother Stephen E. Harrison. He is survived by his beloved wife Myra, of 63 years, and two children, Matt Harrison and wife, Carolyn; Mark Harrison and wife, Sandy; as well as his sister, Becky Harrison, and sister-in-law, Dr. Margaret Harrison. Richard was also blessed with three grandchildren, Andrew Harrison and wife, Liz; Hunter Harrison and wife, Allison; and Megan Harrison. He also had the opportunity to meet his great grandchild, Briar Harrison.
Richard was born on Christmas Day, 1938 in Little Rock, Arkansas, and later attended Little Rock High School where he graduated in 1956. Following high school, he served his country in the United States Marine Corps. In 1960, Richard married the love of his life, his forever friend, and favorite cook, Myra Harrison.
He was instrumental in the growth and success of Welsco, a distributor of welding supplies and industrial gases, for over 30 years. He ultimately became CEO of the company before moving to Ono Island in Orange Beach, AL in 1986. There, he and Myra enjoyed fishing the Gulf Coast. While residing in Orange Beach, Richard owned a furniture manufacturing company that produced promotional dining tables and chairs called Baldwin Dinettes. He and Myra were a part of the Mardi Gras “Bon Temps Krewe” in Orange Beach where Richard became “King” of his crew in 1998. After 15 years of manufacturing furniture, he decided to become a real estate agent on the Gulf Coast. He cultivated his passion for writing by crafting articles about fishing the Gulf Coast in a column he coined “Somethin’ Fishy”, in The Gulf Coast Evening Sun, the local newspaper. He eventually authored his first book called My Killer Christmas Present. Richard enjoyed serving in the Ono Island Men’s Club cooking pancake breakfasts, performing island clean-ups and embarking on numerous trips. Later, he and Myra moved back to Arkansas to be close to their children and grandchildren, residing on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs.
Richard loved spending time with family and friends. He had a zest for life and everyone that knew him, loved him and his contagious laugh. He was an avid duck hunter, fisherman, tennis player and wind surfer. In their early years of marriage, he loved to race cars all over the South with his dad and brother in the Sports Car Club of America. He also enjoyed flying and even piloted his own single engine, Bonanza. Adding another hobby to his repertoire, he was a certified NAUI scuba instructor. As a result, he and his sons had multiple memorable experiences spearfishing in Lake Greers Ferry and Lake Ouachita. As a member of the Grand Maumelle Sailing Club at Lake Maumelle, Richard also had fallen in love with sailing. Richard, Myra and the boys navigated their sailboat all over Lake Ouachita and later throughout the Virgin Islands on the trip of a lifetime.
A celebration of life will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home in Little Rock on
Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 11:30 am and visitation will begin at 10:00 am. The family
would like to thank the special ladies - Rebecca George, Dee Toledo, Mary Francis, and Gina Miller of Hospice- who took such special care of Richard during his last days. In lieu of flowers, the family the family requests donations be in Richard’s honor to Dierkson Hospice of Hot Springs, 3954 Central Ave, Hot Springs, Arkansas, 71913.
