Richard "Scott" Harbison

Richard Scott Harbison
December 20, 1957 January 3, 2025
Passed away in Sacred Heart Hospital at Sandestin on Friday, January 3, 2025, after a two-year battle with congestive heart failure and diabetes. He was 67.
Richard Scott Harbison preferred (Scott) was born at Baptist Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on December 20, 1957, the first child of Carlos Braxton Harbison and his wife Nina Jo Adams Harbison.
Scott's father was a sergeant in the United States Air Force, assigned by recruiting command in Memphis. Scott's mother was a Lab Technician at Baptist Hospital in Memphis. The family lived in Memphis till 1967. In 1962 the family's second Child, John Phillip Harbison was born. In 1967 Carlos Harbison was assigned to the USAF Security Service in Karamursel, Turkey. The family of Nina Jo, Scott, and John joined Sergeant Harbison later in 1967 and began a two-year period living abroad at the height of the Cold War. Scott attended School on the Air Base. The family returned to the United States in 1968 with duty stations at Westover Airforce Base in Massachusetts, and then Wright Patt Air Force Base in Ohio.
In January of 1971, Carlos Harbison retired from the Air Force and the family returned to Memphis, Tennessee. SCOTT attended Bartlett & Germantown High Schools in Memphis and Scott ran track on the varsity Track teams. In 1973 the family moved to Cullman County, Alabama. The family had purchased a 40-acre farm and was looking for a simple life. After a brief retirement (6 weeks) Carlos Harbison began working in sales and found himself in Huntsville, Alabama working in the business college business. For Scott's Senior year at Good Hope High School, he was allowed to live alone his Senior Year of High School on the farm where he bailed hay and spent hours with his grandparents who also lived on Smith Lake in Cullman County. Scott was always quick to help his grandparents with their enormous garden and as a reward spent countless hours fishing with his grandfather on Smith Lake. Scott enjoyed Hunting and Fishing in his early years, after high school he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN. Scott came to his senses and transferred to Auburn University, where he spent five years studying aeronautical engineering. During this time Scott worked for the Bell South phone company contracting the care of the thousands of phones in the state. Later he headed a custodial company. In 1984 he obtained a position as Head Houseman at the famed Birmingham Country Club where he was a favorite employee of the membership and solidified his place on the management team handling, weddings, and any number of Social events. Scott loved the City of Birmingham and he loved the Country Club and the members and staff loved him. In 1994 after a decade of service to the BCC he joined his father and brother in the family's Golf business in Cleveland, Tennessee their third club. In late 2000 the family sold their interest in the club in Tennessee and Scott moved to Ocala Florida to work with his father and brother on their two courses there.
In December of 2000 Nina Jo Harbison passed away, Scott had spent the better part of that year looking after his mother. Scott spent the next eight years working in Ocala on the family Golf Courses until the family sold their Golf business. Scott was always first to offer his help and his truck to any friend who needed it. Scott helped move his Brother and sister-in-law Rita to virtually every Club John was assigned as the General Manager from Nebraska to Atlanta. Scott's health issues began in 2009 but with the help of Cousin Karen Mann was able to recover from severe foot surgery. Even with a protected boot on his foot Scott was always helping friends, his infectious smile lit up everyone's day. Scott loved telling stories, going to dinner, and socializing.
In December of 2022, Scott was Hospitalized with complications of diabetes and congestive heart failure. Over the next two years, he maintained the will to fight and not let his health plight bring down those around him. Special thanks to Scott's stepmother Jan Davis and aforementioned Cousin Karen for looking in on Scott during the past years of heart and health issues.
Scott is not suffering now. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the American Diabetes Association.