William N. Harrison

William Niven Harrison was born in Bartlesville, OK to parents Roland Henry Harrison and Mary Margaret Fewell on 18 October 1963.  He was the youngest of their seven children.  William grew up in Bartlesville, attending school at St John's Catholic School, Central Jr High and College High School.  Just prior to graduating high school in May 1981, he met the love of his life, Lisa Jean Mosher.

William and Lisa attended Oklahoma State University together.  They were married in Bartlesville on 30 December 1983.  He professed his love by singing 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart' to her as part of the ceremony.  William completed the Bachelor of Music Education degree in December 1985.

William and Lisa made their first home in Ponca City, OK.  While living there for eighteen years the Lord blessed them with six amazing sons.  William's career allowed him to raise the boys at home, teaching them all the basics before they entered public school.

William spent the rest of his life sharing his love for music and teaching people of all ages.  He served as Director of Music Ministries at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Ponca City.  He led a Sunday morning adult choir for worship services, an adult handbell choir, youth singing and handbell choirs, and children's singing and hand chime choirs.  He served as youth leader at Harmony Baptist Church in Ponca City briefly before moving to Bartlesville in 2002.  William served in various roles at Eastern Heights Baptist Church in Bartlesville, including interim Music Director, Youth Leader, and Deacon.

Once his sons were all in school, William began his elementary music teaching career.  He started at Roosevelt Elementary in Ponca City where his sons attended school.  William then taught one year at Owasso schools before moving to his final teaching role at Ranch Heights Elementary in Bartlesville.  "Mr. Harrison" was loved by all his students.  He had an uncanny ability to know all several hundred student names within the first couple weeks.  William couldn't go anywhere in town without at least one current or past student calling out 'Mr. Harrison, Mr. Harrison'.

Scouting was another of William's passions.  As a youth he was able to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout, become a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and complete an outdoor trek at the Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in NM.  As William's sons became involved in scouting, William served as Den leader, Cub Scout Master, and Scout Master. William went on hundreds of campouts with his boys and Scout Summer camp every year.   He assisted all six sons in achieving the Eagle Scout rank and was able to join them on Philmont treks.

William was also a Loyal and True Oklahoma State fan.  While he might not have actually bled orange it would be a rare occasion that he wasn't wearing an OSU something.  He was even known to have taught his boys that the color orange isn't simply orange - it's "Orange Power" of course.

William is survived by his spouse Lisa; his son Brian and his family Shannon and Elizabeth of Stillwater, OK; his son Andrew and wife Rosemary of Houston, TX; his son David of Dallas, TX; his son Jonathan and wife Amanda and sons Clark and Cooper of Stillwater, OK; and his son Kevin of Tulsa, OK.  He is also survived by his parents Roland and Marge Harrison of Bartlesville, OK and his six siblings and their extended families - Margaret and Pete Duggan, Cecelia and Tom Cameron, Roland and Stephanie Harrison, Tom and Barbi Harrison, Elizabeth and Tim Saine, and Robert and Heather Harrison.  William was preceded in death by his son Sean and grandchildren Hope and Oliver.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts be made to the OSU Foundation and designated to the William Harrison Memorial Fund.  Funds will be used to further support music studies for OSU students.  Checks should be payable to the OSU Foundation and sent to PO Box 1749 Stillwater, OK  74076-1749.  Online donations can be made at Make a Gift - OSUgiving.com.  Either method should include 'In Memory of William Harrison'.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William N. Harrison, please visit our floral store.