Joe E. Harrison

Baker City Herald
Baker City, Oregon
January 17, 2003

Joe Harrison

Joe E. Harrison, 85, died at his home in Baker City on Jan. 22, 2003.

At his request, there will be no funeral. An urn burial will take place later at Lane Memorial Gardens in Eugene.

Joe E. Harrison was born on Dec. 24, 1917, at Wallowa to John Baker Harrison and Lula Jane Markham Harrison. He attended school at McEwen in Sumpter Valley until the age of 16 when he moved to New Bridge in Pine Valley to finish his education and to work in the Cornucopia Gold Mine.

He later moved to Portland where he worked as a stainless steel welder on aircraft carriers during World War II. He drove log trucks for several years and also worked for Myrno's, Levitts & West Coast Trucking. He eventually moved to Springfield where he owned and operated a diesel mechanic business.

From 1954 to 1956 he was vice president of the Springfield Speedway and had a great appreciation for fast cars. After retiring, he had a gold mine on Conner Creek near Durkee. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed dancing, fishing, camping in the great outdoors and telling stories of his adventures.

He enjoyed the companionship of his dachshund dogs and riding his ATV with his wife. His love of music inspired him to play the saxophone at a young age. He was a loving and generous man who cared deeply for his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Delma Miles Harrison of Baker City; son, Wayne Harrison, and wife, Shari; daughter, Linda Jo Fountain, and husband, Dick; grandsons, Jerry Campbell, and wife, Jennifer, and Justin Campbell; six great-grandchildren, Brandon, David, Brogan, Danika, Kendra and Tarrin, all of Springfield; nephews, Frank Vale of Springfield, Harvey Harrison of Pendleton, and Tom and Dennis Curtis of Halfway; nieces, Velma Barnham of Florida and Nancy Fergeson of Bates; Ralph and Myrna Morgan of Baker City, Myron and Dotty Miles of North Powder, and Keith and Anita Miles of Indonesia; and 11 stepgrandchildren and 18 stepgreat-grandchildren.

Mr. Harrison was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mildred and Alta; and a brother, Victor.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pathway Hospice or the charity of one's choice through Gray's West & Co., PO Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.

Joe married Delma Dorothy Hesner, daughter of Ellis Hesner and Alteeny Rambo. (Delma Dorothy Hesner was born 20 February 1918 in Pleasant Valley, Baker County, Oregon, died 24 April 2009 in Boise, Ada County, Idaho and was buried 2 May 2009 in Sumpter, Baker County, Oregon at Blue Mountain Cemetery.)