Thomas O. "Tommy" Harrison, Jr.

A service to honor the life of Mr. Thomas O.”Tommy” Harrison, Jr. will be held at 2 pm on Monday, December 31, 2018, the First Baptist Church of Montgomery with Bro. Lloyd Whitman officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Maurice cemetery in St. Maurice under the direction of Blanchard-St. Denis Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5 pm until 9 pm on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Montgomery. Tommy, 90 years of age, and a lifelong resident of Montgomery, La. passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Friday, December 28, 2018, at Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital in Alexandria, La. He was born on March 24, 1928, to Thomas O. Harrison, Sr. and Mabel Fletcher Harrison in Verda, La. Tommy had a passion for playing baseball. He played high school, college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and at the semi-professional level. He proudly served in the United States Air Force for four years, continuing to play baseball in different military leagues and minor leagues. His baseball career ended when he chose to further his education. While attending The University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry, He also attended Northwestern State University in Natchitoches where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Education and his Masters +30 in Office Supervision and Administration. Over the years, Tommy worked in the Grant parish school district serving as a teacher, principal, and school board superintendent.  In his downtime, Tommy enjoyed hunting and fishing, as well as teaching Sunday school at First Baptist Church of Montgomery, also serving as a deacon. He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Margie Harrison LaGrone. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Paula Gilbert Harrison; daughter Jennifer Harrison; son, Gilbert Harrison and wife Wendy; grandson, Jacob Harrison; granddaughter, Sarah Harrison; and nephew, Ben LaGrone and wife Karen. Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jacob Harrison, Ben LaGrone, Logan Futrell, Shane Seward, Joshua Fletcher, and Mel Shaw.  Honorary pallbearers are Randell Fletcher, Melvin Shaw, Sonny Seward, Maurice Smith, Kenneth Deen, Richard Paul Smith, Steve Gunn, and Elray Lemoine.  Serving as First Baptist Deacons are Homer Looney, Roy Davison, Dennis McGuire, Paul LeBaron, Charles Williams, and Jerry Purvis.