Charles Taliaferro Harrison, of Loudon, age
92, died February 16, 2022.
He
was born on April 25, 1929, in Loudon, Tennessee, to parents
Mark Hardin Harrison and Mary Broady Harrison.
He was a life-long dairy farmer in the Fork
Creek community of Loudon and Monroe counties, first farming
with his father, and later, with his son Steve. Charles
attended Loudon County schools through 10th grade and
graduated from Tennessee Military Academy in Sweetwater in
1947. He then attended Maryville College and the University
of Tennessee, where he graduated in 1953 with a degree in
dairy science and was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho
fraternity. During the summer of 1950, he worked the wheat
harvest from Oklahoma to North Dakota, which was a formative
experience. In November 1956,
Charles married Mary Elizabeth McGuffey, the
local Home Demonstration Agent, who later taught home
economics at Loudon High School. By 1962, the couple had
four children which, as to be expected, resulted in a
bustling homelife. For the duration of their fifty-year
marriage, the Harrisons’ home was always a place of
gathering for family and friends, all of whom enjoyed their
hospitality and especially Mary’s wonderful food. Mary
preceded Charles in death, having died in 2007. Charles’
agricultural interests included serving on the board of
Loudon Farmer’s Co-operative, East Tennessee Select Sires,
and Tennessee Dairy Herd Improvement Association. He was a
founding member of Fork Creek Presbyterian Church, where he
served as an elder, Sunday school teacher and trustee. He
was also a 40-year member of the Loudon County Planning
Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. During the last
decade, Charles could often be found on the farm, driving
his truck and checking cattle with his favorite Australian
shepherd at his side.
He was preceded in death by his older
brother, Broady. He is survived by his younger brother Joe
Harrison and his wife, Clarke, of Knoxville, and several
nieces, nephews and cousins. Charles is survived by his
three sons and daughter, in order: Steve and Beverly
Harrison, of Loudon, their children and grandchildren, Mark
and Addie Harrison, Bo and Megan Harrison (Charlie and
June), Rebecca and Trey Dyer (Annie and Mary Evelyn); John
and Dr. Celia Harrison, of Philadelphia, their children,
Mary Lyndal, Sally, John William, Charles Allen and Amy;
Paul and Melissa Harrison of Knoxville, their children,
George Harrison and Blaine and Ellen Harrison; Amy and
Robert Hinton, of Lenoir City, their children, Mary Grace
and Granville.
He was blessed to have many life-long
friends, including Ted McDonald, Bill Lenoir, Hugh McQueen,
Hugh Hickey and cousin Homer Vaughn Simpson. Other close
friends included neighboring Fork Creek families, such as
the Lenoirs, Hargroves, Howards, Ritcheys, Rogers,
Stooksburys, Lawsons and Kittrells. Charles will be
remembered for his steady demeanor, strong work ethic, and
love of family and friends. It is possible that he will be
most remembered for his deep and sincere curiosity into the
lives of others, evident in his constant willingness for a
happenstance conversation. A special thanks is given to
caregivers Cynthia McMahan, Deborah Ogle and Sharon Miller.
A private family burial will be held at the
Harrison Family Cemetery in Loudon. In lieu of flowers, the
family requests memorials be given to Fork Creek
Presbyterian Church, c/o Marguerite Christian, Treasurer,
145 Glenlock Lane, Sweetwater, Tennessee 37874 or the church
or charity of your choice.
In earlier years "Mr. Charlie" himself served as a Director of Loudon Farmers Cooperative, one of AgCentral's predecessor co-ops.
A believer in record-keeping as a tool which led to farm financial success, he was a State Director of the Tennessee Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA), a means of tracking milk cow production and reproductive status (aka profitability), long before computers were widely used on dairies.
He served many years on the Board of East Tennessee Select Sires, (one of the predecessor co-ops of today's Premier Select Sires, Inc.) In so doing, his decisions on that board influenced the genetic base of dairy herds not only in the Southeast, but across the country.
As a member of the Loudon County Planning Commission, he balanced the needs of keeping open spaces for agriculture and economic growth of the county, helping shape regulations and growth standards.
He also had a keen interest in politics and 'who was running?,' because he knew decisions made by elected officials would affect his community and way of life.
Through AgCentral's many years of serving Harrison Dairy, many staff members thoroughly enjoyed interactions with "Mr. Charlie." We knew we could count on him for insight on a variety of life topics, from pros and cons of land purchases, to thoughts on 'cow sense' and how to take care of them, but most of all, his love for agriculture history of the area and region. He was a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about the farms and families of the area, and knew their stories as well as his own.
He never met a stranger, and visitors to the Harrison farm quickly became friends, and often knew they needed to prepare to "sit a spell," to hear the stories Mr. Charlie loved to tell. And those visitors loved every minute of that time.
The Harrison family will be honoring Mr. Harrison with a private service.
Memorials may be directed to: