REFLECTIONS OF A LIFE WELL LIVED

Jim Henry Harrison, Jr. (Big Jim) was born on June 18,1940 in Boynton, Oklahoma, and lived in Muskogee and Oklahoma City prior to moving to Wichita with his family.  He was the second of three children born to Jim H. Harrison, Sr. and Dorothy Z. Harrison. Jim married Claudette Robbins on August 4, 1962, and they have been married for 63 years.  They were blessed with two sons, Kevin and Todd Harrison.

Jim graduated from Wichita High School North and attended Wichita Technical College and Friends University. He joined the United States Air Force in 1962, and he and his young wife spent three of his four years stationed in Tokyo, Japan.  While in Japan, Jim received the Department of Defense Joint Service Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. After his honorable discharge, Jim began working as an Avionics Technician at Beech Aircraft (Raytheon) and retired after 37 years.

Jim united with Grant Chapel AME Church as a teenager and remained a steadfast member.  He worked untiringly on the Trustee Board for several decades and served several terms as the chairman pro tem.  He also served on the Grant Scholarship Committee, the Men's Group, the Male Chorus and worked in the Food Kitchen.  In addition, Jim (with his friend Howard Hunt) coached both young men's and young women's basketball teams at Grant Chapel.  Jim was recognized as a Lifetime Service Honoree at Grant Chapel's Centennial Banquet.

Sports were a major part of Jim's life.  In 1972, he and his father-in-law, (Owen Jones) formed a non-profit corporation, Youth in Action (YIA, Inc), which provided baseball activities for youth, from ages 5 to 18, touching the lives of many young people in this community.  Later, he coached adult men's softball teams (Black Sox).  In his spare time, he enjoyed playing golf.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Dorothy Harrison.  Alzheimer's Disease robbed Jim of his memory, but it cannot rob others of their memory of him.  Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Claudette Harrison; sons, Kevin S. Harrison and Todd H. Harrison (Latisha Marzett); four grandchildren: Ashley Cavazos (Martavious Irving), Taj Holt, Allyce Harrison (Shelton McKellar), and Zarya Harrison; two bonus grandchildren, Jalen Marzett and Shayla Marzett; three great-grandchildren: Zaidyn and Zamor' McKellar and Syx Irving; two sisters: Emma Jean Smith and Jacqueline V. Graham (Dorris); sister-in-law, Estella Cain (Jerry); brother-in-law, Jimmie Perkins; daughter-in-love, Chez Harrison; and a host of nieces and nephews and special friends.