Murray Harrison

Murray Harrison

Murray W. Harrison of Eastpoint, Florida, departed this life November 7th at 80 years old. Born in Manatee County, Florida, Murray graduated from Palmetto High School, where he met his future wife, Ann, also a Florida native, when both played in the band.

He graduated from Emory University's School of Business Administration in Atlanta, Georgia, began his banking career there with C&S Bank and served in the US Army Reserve. The young family returned to Florida in 1969 and Murray became President of banks in Kissimmee and Sun City Center. His heart was always in his family's cattle ranching business and at age 35 he gave up banking and raised cattle for the next 29 years on a 6,000 acre ranch at Fort Lonesome, Florida, and a purebred farm in Pavo, Georgia.

He was drawn to Franklin County by the open waters and forests of "Old Florida", the independent lifestyle of oystermen, and the opportunity to swap stories with people from all walks of life every day.

Murray is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann; son, Murray Wesley Harrison; daughter, Katharine Ann Harrison; and sisters, Jo Ann Thomas, Peggy Long and Patsy Carleton. Services were held at Forgotten Coast Community Church in Eastpoint prior to interment in the historic Parrish Cemetery in Parrish, Florida, on November 14, 2022.