John O. Harrison

John O. Harrison, 82 of LaPlata, Missouri passed away Saturday, August 19, 2023 at The Pines in Kirksville.

John was born March 19, 1941 in Jefferson City, Missouri, the son of John and Sarah (Baskett) Harrison. On September 26, 1970 in LaPlata, Missouri he was united in marriage to Joan Mitchell.

John lived various places in the United States, beginning school in Richland, Washington and graduated from Sterling High School in Sterling, Colorado in 1959. He received his Associate in Arts Degree from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado in 1961, Bachelors of Science Degree from University of Colorado in 1963, and a Master of Science Degree from the University of Wyoming in 1968. He served in the United States Army from 1963 until his discharge in 1968, including 13 months in Korea.

John worked for the United States Department of Defense as an auditor from 1968 through 1996 out of St. Louis, Missouri, auditing both large corporations and small businesses. He moved to Kirksville after retiring in 1997. After moving to Kirksville he continued his life’s work by lending his lending his accounting skills to many local charities including Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army and American Red Cross. He worked for H&R Block in Kirksville for 10 years.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served as treasurer for many years.

John is survived by his wife, Joan; two daughters, Susan (Shawn) Ivy of Jefferson City, MO and Janna Harrison of Jefferson City, MO; one brother, Thomas Harrison of St. Charles, MO; four grandchildren, Luke Ivy, Brooke Ivy, Connor Wilson, and Parker Wilson; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023 with a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home. Interment with military rites will be in Park View Memorial Gardens.

Memorials in memory of John are suggested to the Pantry of Adair County.