Roy Harrison, 77

Roy Ronald Harrison, 77, of Hood River, Oregon, passed away on Feb. 8, 2025, after a painful struggle with dementia. His very faithful younger son, Kor, was by his side. He will be missed by all of his family and friends.

Roy was born on July 17, 1947, to Mable Florence Verley and Ernest Leo Harrison in Kalispell. Roy and his older sister, Ellie, were raised in logging camps as young kids until the family settled in Evergreen. Roy attended Evergreen Elementary School before eventually going to Flathead High School. He went on to attend the University of Montana and competed in wrestling.

Roy met Shirley Mae Anderson in his college years, and they started a family with the arrival of Scott in 1969 and Kor in 1970. Roy pursued a few different careers before finally landing on carpentry. Family time was full of introducing his kids to the outside world. Skiing, backpacking, canoeing, mountain climbing, and whatever Northwest Montana could offer were pursued. Far away places like the Missouri Breaks, the Bitteroots, Humbugs, and Bugaboos were all touched and burned in his kids’ memories.

In 1989, Roy moved to Hood River, Oregon. Windsurfing was one of Roy’s passions and there was no better place to experience it than the Columbia Gorge, plus "there was an extra two months of summer" as opposed to Montana. Eventually, Roy’s carpentry skills helped build a construction business with Kor in the Gorge, Harrison Builders, that is still going strong today.

Roy was a simple man but really enjoyed spending time with all his family and friends. All his kids had his full support. "Well, that would be good, too."

Roy is survived by Shirley, his sister, Ellie Brunette and husband Gerry Brunette, sons, Scott Harrison and wife Diana Harrison, Kor Harrison and Ambler Fitzsimmons, grandchildren, Jay Harrison, Drew Harrison, and Sara Harrison, Finnian Harrison and Larkin Harrison, Brunette nieces and nephews, Lori, Chris, and Ginger.

No services are planned at this time. If you have thoughts about Roy you would like to share with the family, they can be sent to scottharrison848@gmail.com and korharrison@aol.com. Roy would have liked people to be frugal with their time and money, no gifts or flowers are necessary.