Harrison, Von Dean's Obituary
Von Dean Harrison was born July 3, 1931, the middle child to Clyde and Alice Harrison who resided in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
Von soon met and married the love of his life Rogena Marie Evans April 22, 1951; they celebrated their 71st anniversary before her death July 27, 2022.
Von served in the Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso,Texas teaching radar to other young recruits during the Korean Conflict; some how the army lost Von’s orders while the rest of his squadron was deployed to the battlefield in Korea. Thus, his only child was born in the army hospital at Fort Bliss.
After fulfilling his Army commitment, the GI bill afforded Von the opportunity to attend Oklahoma State University where he soon graduated with a mechanical engineering degree.
He initially took an engineering job in Richmond, Indiana before returning to his beloved state of Oklahoma where he worked as an engineer at BF Goodrich until that plant was forced to close.
Although he was offered other positions with BF Goodrich when the plant closed, he chose to buy a farm rather than leave Oklahoma again.
Perhaps Von’s happiest work days were spent sitting solo on a tractor or a combine from sunup to sundown. Raising cattle, farming wheat, milo, soybeans, cutting and baling hay for himself and various neighbors kept him occupied for many years until he retired to live on the lake and fish at the insistence of his wife who thought they deserved to enjoy life more than the rigorous farm life.
After retirement, Von and Rogena enjoyed many days living, fishing and boating on Lake Fork outside Yantis, Texas before they once again decided to move to Broken Arrow, Ok in 2009 to be closer to their only daughter.
Von was preceded in death by parents Clyde and Alice Harrison, sister Vonda Harrison, brother Dale Kent Harrison, and sister Wyvonne Khoury.
Von is survived by his daughter Theresa and Mark Williamson of Broken Arrow; three grandchildren: Angela and the late Billy Hayes of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; Jody and Whitney Rogers of Louisville, Kentucky; and Mark Andrew and Delaina Williamson of Broken Arrow as well as nine great grandchildren: Kodey and Ashley Kelley; Jesse and BreAnn Kelley; Lacey and Nick Walsh; Aubrie Hayes and Gavin Enlow; Grant, Clayton, and Bennett Rogers; Autumn Leaver, and Tinley Williamson and six great-great grandchildren: Vivian, Valerie, Ezra, and Noah Kelley; Layla Arrieola, and Leo Enlow.
In addition to being a lifelong proud Korean veteran, Von was a member of the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
A Graveside ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, September 28 at 10 am at Floral Haven Memorial Gardens - Garden of Apostles.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Alzheimer’s Association would be appreciated.
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