Mary Harrison

Mary Helen Harrison passed away Saturday, March 8th, 2014. She was born Mary Helen Halford on November 5th, 1921 just three months after the U.S. formally ended World War I. The youngest of 5 brothers and sisters, Mary Helen grew up on a cotton farm in Rutherford, TN. In 1939, after sneaking in to the local pool hall at age 17, she met a young man named Harry Holmes Harrison. Her mother was cautious about this young man and would only allow Mary Helen to go out with him if they double dated with someone she trusted. Their love blossomed and they were married on July 15th, 1940. They had 4 children starting in 1942, and spent the majority of their lives together in Canton, OH from 1944 until 1983. Harry and Mary Helen returned to Tennessee by way of Dyer in 1983 and remained there until 2003 when they moved to Texas to live with their eldest son and his family. Mary Helen was the ultimate homemaker, caregiver, mother, and wife. She was always involved in her children’s schools, their activities, sports, etc. She was even the lunch monitor, and would carry a cardboard tube that she used to wop any kid that got unruly during lunch. She wasn’t the kind of woman that people tell grand stories about. She was the one that was quietly in the background making sure that dinner was ready, the clothes were washed, and the house was clean. Mary Helen knew that raising a family and giving them a safe, happy, clean home with good food in their bellies was the best thing she could do for them. She didn’t view herself as a servant or see her life as one of servitude. She was the glue; the thread that sewed the entire family together. She was famous for her fried chicken, chocolate chip cookies, and boiled custard. She was an avid quilter and hand made a special quilt for each of her granddaughters. They all still have them and cherish them. Mary Helen is survived and greatly missed by her 2 sons, 2 daughters, 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 3 communities that were all made better by having Mary Helen in their lives. Services for Mrs. Harrison will be Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of Karnes & Son Funeral Home in Dyer with visitation held Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. Karnes & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mrs. Mary Helen Harrison.