Flora Harrison Obituary

Flora Lee Doty Harrison
AIKEN - Flora Lee Doty Harrison passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017 at her home in Aiken, South Carolina, knowing the touch of a child's hand in hers, surrounded by her four daughters and their adoring families.
She was born on June 26th, 1931 in Old Hickory, Tennessee, a DuPont company town. The fifth child of five loving brothers and sisters, she was the youngest daughter of Bertha Jane and Leslie Albert Doty.
Flora's young life was filled with family and lifelong friends. She was a majorette in the DuPont High School Marching Band until she left for Ward Belmont Preparatory and Finishing School in Nashville. Her future was cast at the company pool when the handsome lifeguard and local football hero bragged that her lovely muscular legs would bring him his own team of football players. In 1949 she married her lifeguard and the love of her life, James Edward Harrison. While Jim (Turk) earned his degree from Middle Tennessee State University, Flora worked at Caine-Sloan Co. of Nashville until God blessed them with the first of four daughters, and later fifteen grandchildren, twenty-four great-grandchildren, and over sixty-six wonderful years of marriage. It was a true love story.
In 1952 Aiken became the setting of their love story as Turk transferred with DuPont to the Savannah River Site. Flora filled her life with family and community as a devoted daughter, Sunday School teacher at St. John's Methodist Church, room mom, sponsor of Les Coquettes and Aiken Civic Ballet. She was a member of the Aiken Garden Club, the Aiken Bridge Club and swim coach to her grandchildren. After sending her four daughters to college, Flora joined The Peachtree in sales and interior design, where she was known for her great sense of style.
Whatever Flora did, she did to perfection. Finding joy and blessings in every day. Taking the ordinary, and making it magical. Above all, she will carry on through her family, her greatest achievement. She inspired a kind of love that brings forty to sixty people to her holiday table filled with foods that nourish the soul. We take hands in blessing and thank God for all that she created for us. She taught that being a part of this family is not determined by DNA. It is a gift she extended to those who join hand-in-hand in prayer to celebrate our love and commitment to each other.
How do we remember such a presence in our lives? She was a strong, smart and ambitious woman strengthened by being southern and defined by her faith. She turned heads with her auburn hair and glowing smile. She had a soft voice and a gentle touch, a tender heart and a creative mind. She was generous and kind. We will go on to tell her story of a beautiful life lived.
In addition to her parents Leslie Albert Doty and Bertha Jane Doty, Mrs. Harrison was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, James Edward Harrison; siblings Herbert Jackson Doty, Fred Owen Doty, Eddie Jean Doty, and Marian Louise Moore; her grandson Joshua David Hauseman and her great-granddaughter Macayla Grace Smoak.
She is survived by her daughters, Dianne Harrison Hauseman (David), Lynn Harrison Beaumont (Mark), Barbara Harrison Smoak (Rodney), and Becky Harrison Lawson (Scott); Grandchildren, Amber Hauseman Kaul, Laura Christina Hauseman, Adam David Hauseman, Mark Just, Jennifer Beaumont Keuller, Ashley Beaumont Woodring, Leslie Beaumont Huguley, Whitney Beaumont Schaltenbrand, Kimberly Smoak Butler, Jeff Smoak, Austin Lee Smoak, Tina Smoak Schutte, Harrison James Jeffcoat Smoak, Robert James Buckley Lawson, and William Scott Lawson.
The family will receive friends beginning at 11:00 pm on Saturday, November 25th, 2017 at George Funeral Home with services following at 12:00 noon in the Chapel. The Reverend Jeff Smoak will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be directed to charities that are dear to them: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22314, The Batten's Disease Foundation, P.O. Box 50221, Austin, TX 78763, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814, or the Polycysitic Kidney Foundation, 8330 Ward Parkway, Suite 510, Kansas City, MO 64114.
The Historic George Funeral Home, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements.
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Harrison family may be left by visiting
www.georgefuneralhomes.com