Thomas Harrison

June 30, 1941 - May 17, 2015

Thomas Newton Harrison, 73, of Ardmore, Oklahoma, died May 17, 2015, at home with his loving family by his side. He born was on June 30, 1941, in Henryetta, Oklahoma to the late Jack Harrison Sr. and Meroah Miller. In 1959, Tom graduated from Henryetta High School. He received a BS in Chemistry from Northeastern State College in 1965, and earned his MBA from Southeastern State University in 1993. Tom served four years of duty in the United States Air Forces Reserve. He married Helen Marie Moncus on December 23, 1966 in Titusville, Florida; they lived together in Ardmore, Oklahoma for forty-four years. Tom dedicated his career to the field of technology. He worked for NASA in Cape Canaveral, Florida assisting with the Apollo 11’s successful mission of man’s first landing on the moon. On July 20, 1969, NASA honored Tom with an Apollo Achievement Award for his dedicated service and participation. From 1967 until 1971, Tom worked for Rockwell International in Tulsa, as a chemical engineer. In 1971, he moved to Ardmore, Oklahoma to work for the Uniroyal Tire Corporation as a chemical engineer, where he worked for twenty-seven years. On May 27, 1996, he received a Michelin Service Recognition Award. Tom’s passions centered mostly on his family, his dogs and his hobbies. In leisure, he enjoyed judging science fairs as a volunteer. After retiring from Michelin in 1997, Tom and his wife took many trips to Vegas, Atlanta and Hawaii. He also enjoyed fishing with his brother Jack and spending time watching his grandchildren, Connor and Alex. On Monday evenings, he loved playing poker with his buddies and got hot when he lost. Most importantly, Tom was an avid sports enthusiast, especially when watching Sooner football! After buying season tickets in the mid 80’s, he and his son, Jon, spent many weekends attending football games at the University of Oklahoma. Tom was always proud of his achievement of playing the cornet in the Henryetta High School marching band and of the many awards they won throughout the years that he played. His favorite memory was in 1956, the year the band went to California to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. Tom is survived by his wife, Helen Harrison of the home; and his two children: Tanya Harrison, of Ardmore; and Jon Harrison and his wife Stacy of Ratliff City. He is also survived by his two grandchildren: Connor Harrison and Alex Harrison, of Ratliff City; his brother, Jack Harrison Jr. and his wife Margaret Harrison, of Henryetta; and his niece and nephews: Sondra Heaverin and her husband Dave Heaverin, of Oklahoma City; James Harrison, of Tulsa; Bryson Vann, of Ada; his Aunt Marilyn Mason, of Willimantic, Connecticut; and his sister-in-laws, Pat Davies and Mary Moncus, of Sacramento, California. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2015, at 2:00 pm, at the Rogers Funeral Home in Henryetta, Oklahoma.