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Morgan Samuel Harmison, III

Posted 2017-07-23 by Judy Wight Branson
The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona
Sunday, July 23, 2017, pages 8a & 10a

Morgan Samuel Harmison III, born May 31, 1916 in Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, passed away on July 17, 2017 at the age of 101 in Lake
Charles, La.

Raised on a farm in Berkley Springs, West Virginia, he was a true
southern gentleman. He married Jane Stepp on December 20, 1940. Sam
always claimed he married intentionally on December 20th because it
was the longest night of the year.

His career included working for Firestone Tire, Western Auto and
finally with American Furniture, in El Paso, Texas. He gained a
reputation as “the fixer” because if there was a problem, the store
owner always turned to Sam. At retirement age, he and Jane opened
the Plum Tree, a boutique gift shop in El Paso, which was relocated
to the Cottage Shop area of Lake Charles, La., in 1990. The shop was
closed when Jane became ill. Sam lost his wife of 63 years in June
2004.

Sam Harmison loved people, especially children, and he never turned
down an ice cold vodka martini.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife, Jane, his son, Steven, and
his sisters; Carol and Natalie, both of Berkley Springs, W. Va.

He is survived by his son, Mike Harmison of Lake Charles, La, his
daughter, Marge Landry (Ray) of Prescott, Ariz., grandson Chris
Wardlaw (Molly) of Lincoln, Calif. and two great grandsons; Grayson
Wardlaw and Asher Wardlaw. In addition, he left behind his best
friends, Ellen and Robert Brittain and their family, who faithfully
cared for him every day in the last years of his life.

A brief memorial service will be held at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake
Charles at 5:30 p.m., on Tuesday, July 25th, 2017.

If you wish, you may make a contribution in Sam’s name to the
Prescott Art Docents.

He, his wife and his daughter all shared a love of art and music.

Information provided by survivors.




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