Eleanor Harrison

Eleanor Maxine (Dooley) Harrison, 89, passed away on October 28, 2024, at her home in
Forsyth, MO.
Eleanor was born on September 14, 1935 in Excelsior Springs, MO to Sherman Lorn and
LaVeta Belle (Potter) Dooley. She married John E “Jack” Harrison on November 3, 1956 at the
Woods Memorial Christian Church in Excelsior Springs, MO. They were the parents of two
children, Leslie and Clay. The family lived in Excelsior Springs until 1970, when they moved to
Forsyth.
For many years, Eleanor was a familiar face at the front desk of the Forsyth Library every week.
She was a charter member of the White River Valley Historical Society’s “Loom Ladies”
traditional crafting and social group and was a charter member/vice-president of the Wagonettes
Extension Club when it was formed in 1971. She was a former member of the Calico Cutups
sewing group and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (“DAR”),
Taneycomo Chapter.
Prior to, and in the early years of marriage, she was a nurse’s aide at the Excelsior Springs
Hospital. While her main occupation for the rest of her life was a homemaker, she also did the
accounting for the family business, H & H Masonry, until Jack retired.
Eleanor was an avid gardener with a special gift for making perfect compost! While she
excelled at many crafts, including quilting, crocheting, looming and tole painting, her favorite
craft throughout the years was knitting. Her immediate family, parents, sisters, nieces and
nephews looked forward each Christmas to receiving a pair of handmade slippers or
stocking caps and many family members still display her intricate Christmas stockings each
year.
She loved to collect depression glass over the years, enjoying many fun hours at garage sales
and flea markets searching for the perfect piece to add to her collection. When her collection
became too large to display, she opened the Dogwood Gift Shop and later she and Jack spent
several years selling items in flea market booths in the area.
Eleanor is survived by husband Jack of the home; daughter Leslie Wyman (Rick) of Rueter; son
Clay Harrison (Danielle) of Forsyth; grandchildren Valerie Wyman (Abigail) of Springfield;
Zachary Burch (Elizabeth) of Galena; and Quincey Shea (Joshua) of Merriam Woods; great-
grandchildren Quorrah, Eliana, Zoey, Emmet, Jazmynn, and Zinnia; and (as family jokingly
refers to him) her “other son”, mini-Aussie Rascal. Other survivors include her sisters: Nancy
Gulley, Colorado Springs CO, Sharon Sheets, Kansas City MO, Linda Hough (Allen),
Independence MO, Jackie Rogers, Springdale AR; brother-in law Roy Oliphant, Richmond MO
and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
She was pre-deceased by her parents Sherman and LaVeta (Potter) Dooley; brother Jerry
Dooley; sister Lorna Oliphant and brothers-in-law Winston Gulley and Steve Rogers.
Memorial service will be at the Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel Saturday, November 9, 11:00am.
Her remains will be interred in the Snapp Cemetery, Forsyth, at a later date. Visitation will be on
Friday, November 8, 5:00-6:30pm, at Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the following: White River Valley Historical Society,
PO Box 841, Forsyth, MO 65653 or Forsyth Library, PO Box 522,  Forsyth MO 65653.

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