Robert "Bob" HARRISON

1936 - 2021

May 20, 1936 - February 22, 2021. Proud father of Kelly (Ian Marsland) and Karyn (Garrett Lauzon) and equally proud grandpa of Katie and Bridget Marsland, Matteo and Mia Levin and Eva Lauzon. Dad is predeceased by his wonderful wife (and a wonderful mom), Elizabeth, his sister, Elizabeth Campbell, his parents, Robert and Margaret, and his Granny Garden (Dad was convinced that he was his granny's favourite). Dad began his career as a salesman at Safety Supply Company and rose to become their National Sales Manager. He enjoyed the opportunities to travel, devise new sales strategies, mentor his sales staff and work with a great group of people. The most important person he worked with at Safety was his boss's Executive Assistant, Betty Hughes, who he married in 1964. Together, Mom and Dad raised their family (two kids and many, many dogs and cats) and enjoyed a quiet life in the country. In 1980, Dad, with Mom's support, made the brave decision to follow his dreams and start his own company. Together, they opened Heritage Safety Products in Milton. Their hard work, experience and determination grew Heritage from a two person, two room operation to the booming business that Karyn has continued to grow and to honour their legacy. At the age of 19 Dad purchased the lot next to his family's cottage on Georgian Bay with money he had saved working part-time while in high school. Years later, he and Mom built their family cottage there. Over the years, they enjoyed hosting friends and family for beach days, drive-in movies, boat rides and corn roasts in the summer and skiing, tobogganing and roaring fires in the winter. Dad was game to try new things and always threw himself whole-heartedly into his projects and passions - building model cars and airplanes, squash, vegetable gardening, cross-country skiing (he was very particular about his waxes) and reading about the American Civil War (a 1982 family 'vacation' to visit Civil War cemeteries and battlefields was almost our last vacation together). In his later years he loved dressing for work at Heritage in impeccably tailored and colourful suits where every detail - fedora, tie, cufflinks, socks and wing tip shoes - was meticulously and artfully coordinated. He loved to tell stories and enjoyed three hour business lunches where anything but business was discussed. Dad will be missed by his family and his best friend of over fifty years, Tim Sinnett. The two of them enjoyed many trips together and we are very grateful that Tim was there to support Dad through his final journey. We are so thankful to Mom and Dad's wonderful caregiver, Debbie. We were very lucky to find someone who feels like family when we found Deb. Mom and Dad's neighbours, Heather and Harvey and Kirk and Sandy, have been so kind and thoughtful in their support of Mom and Dad. Finally, a huge thank you to Dr. Viola Niesobska for the care she has provided Dad and our family. Everyone should be so lucky to have a doctor as knowledgeable, compassionate and caring as Dr. V. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the charity of your choice or one that was very near and dear to Mom and Dad's hearts - The Upper Credit Humane Society's Trooper Fund (they are the rescuers in Trooper's story and their grand kids loved Trooper and Deena). https://uppercredit.com/donate/troopers-fund/ A celebration of Dad's life will be held at a later date. Condolences may be forwarded through the J. Scott Early Funeral Home at https://earlyfuneralhome.com/