John Devereux Harrison

John Devereux Harrison was born in Oklahoma City on May 10, 1925 to Walter M. Harrison and Anne Waters Harrison. He died peacefully at home in Oklahoma City on the evening of November 13, 2004. He attended Oklahoma City public schools and graduated from The Principia Upper School in St. Louis, Missouri. He returned to Oklahoma City and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, becoming a First Lieutenant. He was proud to be able to learn to fly to defend his country. Upon his discharge in December 1945, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, studying Journalism. He became a member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity and a lifelong supporter of the Sooners, a love that he shared with his family. Upon his graduation from OU, John began working as a disc jockey at KTOK Radio. He soon after began to work for the North Star Newspaper, where he was a writer and publisher. He remained there until 1960, when he moved to KOCO television, Channel 5, became anchor, and broadcast the news to Oklahoma Cityans for many years. He also hosted a local interest show, Harrison and Company. He was with Gannett for 22 years, serving as writer, news announcer and anchor, news director, and personnel director. During this time, he had begun to act in local theatrical productions, the first of which was the musical 'The Boy Friend,' at the Mummers Theater. He loved acting and singing; he was hooked. After several more Mummers shows, he decided to go to Hollywood to see if he could make a career of acting. He was cast in episodes of several popular television shows of the day, including 'Have Gun Will Travel,' 'Whirlybirds,' 'Gunsmoke,' and 'Julia.' He loved working under the direction of legendary director Hal Cantor and appreciated his mentorship. He returned to Oklahoma City and to Channel 5 television, where he remained until his retirement. He retired to Naples, FL where he and Jane fell in love with boating. They became adept at negotiating waterways and reading maps. John loved to drive, whether it was a car, a boat, or a plane. He and Jane spent the time they were not on a boat on the golf course. They also maintained a home at Kissing Camels in Colorado, enjoying the friends they made in these locales, as well as maintaining the lifelong friendships they already had. They returned home to Oklahoma City in 2002 to enjoy the closeness of family and friends. Music was important to John. He taught himself how to play the piano and could play by ear. He recalled singing while traveling with his mother, and he gave his children and grandchildren the gift of music. He had a wonderful sense of theatrics, humor, and music, often entertaining his family and friends with impromptu performances. He was a philosopher and a seeker; a man of deep faith and spirituality. He was a member of the Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist. He is survived by his loving wife Jane; by his children Susan Harrison Guerra and husband Ruben, of El Paso, TX; son Steven Harrison and Kathie Williams, of El Paso; son Christopher Harrison, of Oklahoma City, and by '(his) triplets' Michael Guerra, El Paso; Katie Guerra Beaver and husband Jason, Albuquerque; and Stephanie Guerra DelCampo and husband Rob, Albuquerque. He is also survived by his loving stepdaughters and son, Stephen Marks, wife Saber and their children Philip and Hayley; Bliss Morris, husband John and their children Katie, Hunter, Olivia and Clay; Merrie Duncan, husband Rob and their son Jack; Susie Harris, husband Glenn, and their children Eliot, Grace, Max, Tripp and Will. Also surviving are nieces and nephews Anne Warren Brinkley, husband Alan and sons; Dub and Janet Harrison and family, Mary Carol Harrison Looper and husband Tom and children, Chas and Carol Harrison and family, and Bill and Nancy Harrison and family. He is predeceased by his father, Walter M. Harrison, writer and former managing editor of the Daily Oklahoman and City Councilman; artist Anne Waters Harrison; brothers Gilbert Barker Harrison, Walter M. Harrison, Jr.; sisters Barbara Harrison Lotspeich and Willa Anne Harrison. He is also predeceased by his son John D. Harrison, Jr. The family will receive guests at the funeral home Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be 11 a.m., Thursday, November 18, 2004 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with interment following in Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, John was a friend of Bill W., donations may be made to the Northside Foundation, P.O. Box 21130, Oklahoma City, OK 73156.