Myra Irene Harrison

We have lost a bright figure in the history of Ventura County. Myra Irene Harrison, co-founder of EJ Harrison & Sons, family owned trash & recycling companies, and one of Ventura County's most generous benefactors. Myra died peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, May 25, 2014, at the age of 99. Myra was born on Feb. 17, 1915 in Ventura, California one of 12 children of Francisca Moraga Velarde and Elias Velarde. She outlived all of her siblings and leaves hundreds of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Myra was proud of her Spanish heritage and her family. She was a direct descendent of Lt. Jose Joaquin Moraga, a member of the DeAnza party, which founded the San Buenaventura Mission.

Myra was well known in the business community as someone who greeted every business associate, co-worker, and employee with her warm smile. Her family will always remember her sound advice and wisdom that often came with a pat of encouragement. Myra loved her grandchildren and was always prepared with a song or dance for them. She will be greatly missed by many.

Myra married E.J. Harrison and became a 15-year-old bride. Two years later she became a mother and she started a trash company with her husband in 1932. Myra and E.J. soon began making a modest living by hauling their neighbors’ trash to the Ventura dumps for 75 cents a load. In its first year of business, Harrison Transfer Company had 150 customers. Today, Harrison Industries services about 90,000 customers in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and employs over 400 people.

Myra spoke often of her life with her beloved E.J. They stood beside each other through life’s joys and sorrows. They loved to entertain in their beautiful homes, decorated by Myra which was most often filled with friends and family. They traveled extensively all around the world but were most happy at home in Ventura. They were married 62 years.

Myra worked beside her husband to build the fledgling company, keeping the books and enrolling in classes at Ventura College to hone her business skills while raising her young family and being active in the community. Myra was a leader of the women’s movement decades before there was one.

When E.J. died in 1991, Myra became president and worked with four generations of Harrison family members that are involved in the day-to-day operations of the company. When Myra’s oldest son Ralph became president she remained as founder, while her other sons Jim and Myron continued to serve as vice presidents.

Myra is survived by her daughter Janet Seamands and husband Al of Lander, Wyoming; sons all of Ventura County, Ralph Harrison and wife Jenny, Jim Harrison and wife Mary, Myron Harrison and wife Sharon; grandchildren and their spouses, Katherine Seamands, Mary Ann and Tony Hoyt,, Janet and Steve Iverson, Julia and Jeff Patrick, Lynn and Patty Harrison, John and Letha Harrison, Richard and Lynn Harrison, Myra and Schlomo Rackliff, Edward Harrison, Margaret and Sean Mattern, Kelly and Charles O’Dell, Kimberly and Alex Carriega, Kevin Curtis, Karin Guadagno, Kristin and Bill Millikin, Karisa and Larry Melendez, Sheryl and Donald Abeloe, Michael and Heather Harrison, Caren and Gary Carlsen, Daniel and Victoria Harrison, Donald Harrison, George and Danielle Harrison, Tom Harrison, Darren and Lisa Harrison, Judy and Willie Castillo. In addition, Myra is survived by 71 great grandchildren and 47 great-great grandchildren. Myra was preceded in death by her beloved husband, EJ Harrison, an infant daughter Myra Jane, grandson Tim Harrison, her parents, and all of her siblings.

While much has changed since 1932, Myra oversaw a company that kept up with the times and thrived over the years by being on the forefront of the recycling movement in the state. Harrison Industries also own Gold Coast Recycling & Transfer Station where the recyclables are sorted, baled and recycled for use.

Harrison Industries has taken several steps toward reducing air pollution by opening the first liquefied natural gas fueling station in western Ventura County and gradually transforming its fleet of trucks to run on the cleaner burning compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas and are ready to meet all of the future mandates dealing with recycling and air emissions. For its environmental efforts, Harrison Industries has won a number of environmental awards and Myra was always so proud of these accomplishments. One in particular was from the Pacific Coast Business Times when they selected Harrison Industries for its “Family Business Titans” category based on the high number of family members involved in the company as well as the company’s accomplishments, reputation and community involvement and in 2011 they awarded Harrison Industries with its Legacy Award.

Over the years, while building Harrison Industries, Myra, E.J. and their sons remained committed to giving back to the communities the company served, providing longtime financial support of local non-profit organizations and community cultural events like the Ventura and Ojai Music Festival and the Camarillo Art and Jazz Festival, the Grant Park Conservancy, and the Rubicon Theatre. The company has been particularly generous to organizations that help children such as Casa Pacifica, the Boys Scouts of America and the Boys and Girls Clubs in several cities. In 2013, the doors opened at the Harrison Family Youth Center, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura’s new clubhouse in Saticoy, where the company is headquartered.

Myra served as President of the American Business Women’s Association, board member of the Ventura College Foundation and was active in Native Daughter of the Golden West, the Ventura County Historical Society, Ventura County Museum of History and Art, Emblem Club, Los Californians, the Garden Club and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce.

In 2000 Myra was one of the only two people named as “75 Reasons We Love Ventura County” by the Ventura County Star readers. During her interview for her article she said, “My mother always said you never lose anything by helping other people. We believe in giving back to the community, with both our time and our money.” Myra also said, “Seven generations of my family have been a part of Ventura’s history, and I have had a wonderful life. Lots of hard times, but good. I am grateful for what I’ve been able to do.”

Myra, herself, won numerous awards through the years, and in 2003, she was named “Philanthropist of the Year for Ventura County” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. In 2004, she was honored as “Trailblazer of the Year” by the Women’s Economic Ventures organization and was again honored in 2012 as a Titan for the group. She also received the Humanitarian Award from the American Red Cross.

In 2004, Myra was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by El Concilio del Condado de Ventura. The bilingual and bicultural non-profit agency cited her for the company’s long history of hiring Latino workers. She was the Ventura Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year in 2007.

Visitation will take place at the Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, on Thursday, May 29, 2014, 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. and Friday, May 30, 2014, 12:00 noon until 7:00 P.M with Rosary beginning at 7:00 P.M.

A Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, May 31, 2014, 9:00 A.M., at the San Buenaventura Mission, 211 E. Main Street, Ventura. A reception will follow in the Church Hall (O’Brien Hall). Interment will take place at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura, following the reception.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.