William Black "Bill" Harrison, of Dixon, was born on April 11, 1931, at Owensville, Missouri, the son of Clarence Alburty and Margaret Ruth (Black) Harrison and departed this life at 6:19 p.m., on Thursday, July 27, 2017, in the General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Ft. Leonard Wood, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Mr. Harrison had attained the age of 86 years, 3 months, and 16 days.

Mr. Harrison was united in marriage on August 5, 1951, at Dixon, to Miss Peggy Lavice Eads, and to this union, three children were born. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, on November 23, 2015; his father, Clarence, on October 30, 1997; his mother, Ruth, on June 13, 1996; his father-in-law, Wayne Eads, on December 6, 1984; his mother-in-law, Murrel Eads, on June 24, 1993, and two brothers-in-law, Terry R. Cain on November 11, 2000 and Rev. James G. Eads on July 20, 2012.

Mr. Harrison accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and followed his Lord in baptism early in life. At the time of his passing, he was a member of the First Baptist Church, Dixon, and had served as an ordained Deacon for over 61 years. He was a graduate of Dixon High School, class of 1948, and joined the United States Air Force on April 28, 1952. He served during the Korean Conflict, and was discharged on April 27, 1956, at the rank of Airman First Class. Mr. Harrison was a member of the Arlington Lodge No. 346 A.F. & A.M., Dixon, for over fifty years; a member and past commander of the Liesmann-Roberts American Legion Post No. 298, Dixon; and a lifetime member, officer, and leader of the Council for Exceptional Children for almost sixty years. Mr. Harrison received a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree, with a major in Mental Retardation - both from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He spent his entire working career teaching and advocating for the intellectually and developmentally disabled. In his earlier working years, he worked for the Illinois and Missouri State Departments of Mental Health and held positions including Principal and Head of Special Education Department of the Lincoln State School, Clinic Administrator for the Springfield and Albany Regional Diagnostic Clinics in Missouri, and Superintendent of the St. Louis State School and Hospital. In 1972, Bill and Peggy moved back to Dixon, the hometown they loved. Bill then traveled across the entire country for a number of years, having visited every state, working for the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. In 1979, Bill began teaching special education full time at Dixon High School where he taught until his retirement in 1997. In total, Bill was a school teacher for forty-four years. Bill and his wife, Peggy, also owned and operated the Sears Store in Dixon for 5 years and for twenty-seven years Bill served as the Municipal Judge for the City of Dixon, retiring in 2006. He was also a cattleman, farmer, and community supporter. He served on many community and regional organization boards. Bill loved spending time with family, especially his grand- and great-grand kids.

Those left to mourn the passing of Mr. Harrison include his children: Kathryn Louise "Kathy" Harman of Whitewater, Wisconsin; James William "J" Harrison and his wife, Carrie, of Kirkwood; and Paul Michael Harrison and his wife, Becci, of Willard; his grandchildren, Paul Michael Harrison II, Hali Harrison, Jade Harrison, and Mollie Harrison; his great-grandchildren, Damien Eudy and Loren Harrison; his sister Nellie C. Cain, of Fulton; his sister-in-law Naomi Eads, of Independence; two aunts, Clara Mae Black, of Edgar Springs and Mary Lou Southard, of Richland; cousins, nieces, and nephews; many other relatives; and a host of friends.


Memorial contributions are suggested to the First Baptist Church, Dixon, with envelopes available at the First Baptist Church, Dixon, or care of Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home, P.O. Box EE, Dixon, Missouri 65459.