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The Life of Mary Patricia Harrison

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 6, 2017 at 11:00 AM in Asbury United Methodist Church in Lafayette, LA for Mrs. Patricia “Pat” McCoy Harrison, who died August, 24, 2017 at her residence in Lafayette.

Private family interment will be in the Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.

The Rev. Richard Humphries, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Lee Cooke, accompanied on the organ by Jan Cooke, will provide musical selections for the services.

Left to cherish her memory include her husband of sixty-six years, Frank W. Harrison, Jr. of Lafayette; one daughter, Patti Harrison Chaney-Pollock and her husband, Michael Pollock of Lafayette; one son, Frank W. Harrison III and his wife, Ann Hegenwald Harrison of Houston, TX; and four grandchildren, Joseph Allen Chaney and his wife, Ellen, Frank William Harrison IV and his wife, Emily Anne, Andrew Tyler Harrison and his wife Caroline, and Conner Harrison Chaney; and five great grandchildren, Myles and Molly Chaney, Billy and Brac Harrison, and Watts Harrison.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Hall McCoy and Julia Augusta Conner McCoy; and two sisters, Lucille Yarbrough Hardy and Jessie May Smith.

Pat was born in Columbia, Mississippi and at an early age her parents moved the family to Jackson, Mississippi . She graduated from Jackson Central High School and in her senior year she was voted Miss Central High. She then attended Belhaven College in Jackson. She studied music and received a scholarship to teach horseback riding. After two years she transferred to LSU in Baton Rouge to continue her studies in music and business. While at LSU, she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority, an ROTC sponsor, and was elected as a Gumbo beauty. She graduated from LSU in 1950 with a BA in music including a major in voice and minor in business.

Pat met Frank while at LSU and they married in Jackson, Mississippi on February 3, 1951. The wedding was during the coldest weather on record. The night of the rehearsal dinner the temperature was two below zero. The electricity was out and dinner was held by candle light. The wedding ceremony was moved from the First Baptist Church to the Capital Street Methodist Church which fortunately had electricity and heat. But in spite of the inconveniences they were united in marriage and a grand reception was held at her Mother’s home.

Soon after their wedding, Frank was called into military service. While Frank was stationed in Korea, Pat returned to Jackson and worked as the secretary to the Manager of Standard Oil Company.

After Frank returned from Korea, the couple moved to New Orleans where both their children, Billy and Patti, were born. Shortly thereafter in 1956 Pat and Frank moved to Lafayette, LA where they began a wonderful life, together with their family for the next 61 years.

Soon after arriving in Lafayette, Pat quickly became involved in the music world of Lafayette. She began to use her beautiful soprano voice to entertain and sing at numerous events and in the choir at Asbury United Methodist Church.

She has been a dedicated and active member of Asbury United Methodist Church as well as Asbury''s Challenger Sunday School Class. In her service at Asbury, she was director of the adult choir, and the founder of the Junior Choir Program. She played the piano at church and was a wonderful Sunday School teacher. In addition to her music, she was a member of the Official Board and the Chairman of the Pastoral Relations Committee. She was also named to the Music Hall of Fame of the Asbury Choir which was under the direction of Dr. Dick Chandler at the time.

She was a devout Christian and always willing to be involved in helping others. Pat was active in the community. She instituted the protestant visitation at local hospitals. She was also a prayer warrior at Asbury United Methodist Church.

In addition to her membership at Asbury she was a member of and former secretary of International PEO Chapter AT, and a former president of the United Church Organization.

Pat was a loving mother and wife. She loved her family and was totally dedicated to their well being. She was a Brownie leader, involved in Boy Scout activities, helping her son Billy to a rank of Eagle Scout. She was also president of the Lafayette High PTA. She was a wonderful cook for her family offering delicious fried chicken, meat loaf and her famous chocolate chip cookies.

Pat had an adventurous spirit. She and Frank were both licensed pilots who enjoyed flying together to amazing vacation spots and air shows throughout the US.

One of Pat’s favorite places to go to was our mountain home, HappiShak, in Colorado. There were many blessed family gatherings there where the family spent time together hiking, climbing mountains, looking for minerals, and jeeping over the off road trails.

Pat and Frank enjoyed traveling abroad with their friends and enjoyed celebrating New Year’s in Monte Carlo, Paris and Madrid. Their travels also took them to England, Mexico, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia and Guatemala.

Pat enjoyed singing, playing piano, hiking, gardening and farming, horseback riding, sewing, golfing, tennis, flying, speaking French and writing. She lived a blessed, joyful life. Pat was a remarkably talented lady. The family gives glory to God for her life.

Thanks to the dedicated care takers, Shaquilla Wheeler, Anita Joseph, and Keara Russell for their compassionate care. Also, special thanks to our long time friend, housekeeper and caretaker, Dolores Butler, who gave great support to Pat and our family. Pat and our family also received superb care and attention from Hospice of Acadiana under the direction of Dr. Morris Hoffpauir and nurses, Jo Doucet and Michael Lejeune. The family is forever grateful to all who cared for her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette LA. 70503 or Asbury United Methodist Church, 101 Live Oak Drive Lafayette, LA. 70503.

Pallbearers will be Joseph Chaney, William Harrison, Andy Harrison, Conner Chaney, Doug Yarbrough, and Richard Henke. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Yarbrough, Paul Yarbrough, and Michael Pollock.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM in Martin & Castille''s DOWNTOWN location. There will be NO visitation the day of the funeral.

A reception will be held immediately following the services from 12:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette, 111 Heymann Boulevard.

Martin & Castille - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, LA. 70506 337-234-2311

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2017.11.16
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Posted by Vicki D on 11/16/2017