Rickey Harrison

Rickey Marian Harrison Sr., 55, passed away of natural causes Feb. 9, 2008, at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center with family by his side.

A memorial service to celebrate his life will begin at 1 p.m. Saturdy, Feb. 16 at Farm Loop Christian Center, 5900 Farm Loop Road, Palmer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a special account at Wells Fargo Bank in care of Rickey Harrison Sr.

Harrison was born July 10, 1952, in Opp, Ala., to Roy and Winnie Harrison. One of seven children, he was raised in Columbus, Ga. Harrison spent his summers in Opp with his grandmother Fadie Avant and aunt Orene Wiggins. He loved the South and dreamt of living there once again.

Harrison moved to Anchorage March 3, 1971. He married the love of his life, Carolyn Louise Westfall, April 23, 1976. They would have celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary in April. Together the couple had three children, Hillary, Rickey Jr., and Jedidiah (Jed), and adopted two more, Nathan West and Lilahlee Baldwin. Harrison also considered himself dad to half the Mat-Su Valley. He was grandpa to Johnathan, Justin (Bubba), Dylan, Journey and Emil.

“He taught me how to be a man, and he was the greatest man I ever knew,” his son Jedidiah said.

His son Nathan said Harrison’s “tender heart, uncompromising compassion and selfless love will never be forgotten and may never be duplicated.”

“I will always remember his Yogi Bear love and I will always be his only ‘baby girl,’” his daughter Hillary said.

Rickey Jr. added that, “He was my best friend in the whole world, and everyone he touched was changed. Dad, we will miss you until we are reunited in Heaven with Jesus.”

Harrison is survived by his wife Carolyn; sons Rickey Jr., Jedidiah, and Nathan; daughters Hillary and Lilahlee; and grandchildren Johnathan, Justin (Bubba), Dylan, Journey and Emil. All are from Wasilla.