"Tom" Edward Thomas Harrison Jr.

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Tom Harrison. Tom Harrison was born on December 1st, 1942 in Kansas City, MO to proud parents Edward T. Harrison, Sr. and Mary G. Harrison. He grew up in Honolulu, HI fishing, swimming and getting into mischief while attending Punahou before graduating from high school in [1960] at Choate School in Connecticut. He earned a bachelor's degree in English at UC Berkeley where he met his first wife Laura (Laurie) Reuther. Originally, he planned to continue his education attending divinity school, but this plan was interrupted by the 1963 arrival of his daughter, Laura, and his father's illness which led him to oversee his family’s business. His son Edward joined the family soon after in 1965. Following his passion, in 1972 Tom and his family moved from Berkeley, CA to Eagle Point, OR where he operated Devon Acres an award-winning cattle ranch. It was there that he was able to develop and pursue fascinations with ranching, raising livestock, fishing, all matter of vehicles (including airplanes and motorcycles), dynamite, and late-night raccoon hunting -not necessarily in that order. He and Laurie drifted apart and divorced in 1977. Soon after that, Tom fell in love with Kendall Flautt and convinced her to relocate from Maryland to Oregon with her young daughter Colby. After many years as the life of the party, Tom became a “friend of Bill” in 1982. He embraced his AA family and sponsored and supported many people in the program. He believed strongly no one was beyond redemption and was an inspiration to many; finally coming back, full circle, to his early interest in divinity school. In 1989 he founded Oregon Opportunities, a successful full service real estate brokerage firm specializing in farm and ranch properties which he continued to run with his daughter Colby until shortly before his passing. Sadly, in 2019, after 41 amazing years together, his wife Kendall succumbed to lung cancer. Tom was fortunate to find love again with Patricia Wintemute in 2021 who was his faithful partner until the end.

Tom loved living on the Rogue River and sharing his home there with family and friends. He passed peacefully about three months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He was in a place of gratitude and love and felt he lived a full life with no regrets.

He is survived by his partner Patricia Wintemute, daughters Laura Ward (James), Colby Kielman (Dave), his son Edward Harrison (Kesley), his favorite daughter in law Deedee Flautt, five grandchildren: Alexandra Flautt-Loiselle, Collin Updegraff, Edward Harrison II, Gilmore Flautt V, Zoey Kielman, one great grandson: Jasper Updegraff, and his sister ML Harrison Mackie (Jane).

A memorial will be held in the near future – details to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Asante Hospice (to whom we are eternally and deeply grateful) https://asantefoundation.org/campaign/ongoing-initiatives/hospice-palliative-care/, CASA of Jackson County https://www.jacksoncountycasa.org/ or the Addictions Recovery Center, Medford https://secure.givelively.org/donate/addictions-recovery-center-inc or you may provide a random act of kindness as Tom did often.