Harold Harriger

Harold O. Harriger LUBBOCK- Harold O. Harriger was born in 1928 near Brookville, Pa. to Buff and Katie Harriger and died on June 5, 2012. He was one of 13 children and grew up on a farm where the family raised their own food while his dad worked in the coal mines nearby. He served in the Air Force for three years and then received his BS from Midwestern University and JD from UT Law School. In 1950 he married a young school teacher, Rebecca Craig who was the daughter of a Methodist minister. They moved to Lubbock in 1955 when he joined the law firm of Nelson and McCleskey, now McCleskey, Harriger, Brazill and Graf, where he practiced law for more than 50 years. The Harriger front door was always open and they often had a niece or nephew or a foreign exchange student living with them as well as their four children. Harold believed in serving the community in which he lived. He served on the Boards of Plains Capital Bank, the United Way, the YMCA, the Lubbock ISD School Board, was a Director of First State Bank Shallowater, and Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Methodist Hospital. He was active in the Downtown Rotary Club and visited Rotary clubs all over the world when he traveled. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school, served on the Finance Commission, served as church lay leader, Chairman of the Administrative Board, sang in the choir, and was past Chair of the Texas Tech Wesley Foundation. Harold served as Trustee and Chairman of the Board of McMurry University, served eight years on the Board of the San Antonio Methodist Mission Home, 29 years on the Texas Methodist Foundation Board, and 30 years as Chancellor of the Northwest Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Harold had a marvelous knack for practical problem solving and for mediating between parties to get to a reasonable solution. He used that skill at work and on every board he served. Rebecca died in 2000 and Harold married Jane Kniseley in 2001. They divided their time between Lubbock, Georgia and Pennsylvania until Harold became ill and they moved to Georgia in August 2011. He was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters; and four brothers. He is survived by his wife, Jane; children, Melissa and Dennis Reeves, William and Ailie Harriger, Susan and Kelly Cook, and Joe Harriger; stepchildren, Cindy and Ron Pruitt; grandchildren, Emily and Robert Graves, Sarah and Justin Connell, Clare Reeves, Taylor Thompson, Olivia and Ian Harriger and Seth Cook; step-grandchildren, Casey and T.J. Large and Emily, Will and Rebecca Pruitt; and great-grandchildren Will Graves, Kynzie Large and Jarred and Hannah Bobo. He is also survived by sisters Betty Brosius, Phyllis Reinard, and Donna Brush; brother, Roy Harriger and many nieces and nephews. Harold will be greatly missed by all those who loved him in Texas and Georgia and Pennsylvania. A memorial service in celebration of Harold's life will be held at First United Methodist Church at 1411 Broadway on Monday June 11, 2012 at 10 a.m. Visitation with the family will follow the service in the church parlor. Burial will be in Harriger Hollow in Pa. Suggested memorials are to the Everliving Trust Fund, or the Music Department or Second Helpings Ministry of First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401.