Dorothy Dalton Washburn (Dot) Harrison passed peacefully from her life on earth
to her life in heaven on Thursday, December 17, 2020, only 40 days shy of her
101st birthday.
Dot was born on January 27, 1920 in El Paso, TX to her loving parents, Arthur
Standish Washburn and Lydia Dalton Hawes Washburn. As a child Dot lived in
Silver City, NM, where she spent her early childhood playing among the big rocks,
walking on fallen limbs over dry creeks, laying her head against the sand for hours
listening for Indians, and climbing on the roofs of houses that her father built.
When it came time for Dot to start school, her parents thought it best to return to
their home in Bastrop, LA. Dot lived at times in Bastrop and at times in Monroe
during her school years until her graduation from Bastrop High School in 1937.
It was in her junior year of high school that Dot fell in love with the man that
would soon become her husband, Edgar Lavelle (Buddy) Harrison. Buddy could
not take the time or distance any longer following Dot’s freshman year at LSU so
he proposed to her that summer and they married on July 15, 1938.
Things were going pretty well until Pearl Harbor. Buddy enlisted leaving Dot with
a darling daughter and precious son at home to care for. The World War II years
were a time when all worked together in keeping America strong and Dot was
indeed a willing and able member of this our greatest generation.
Following Buddy’s return home from the European theatre, they moved in 1946
with their two children, Judy and Bud, to Monroe where Buddy opened his own
service station business. Dot settled into the role of wife and mother with her
interests mostly in her children’s school and scouting activities. In 1955 she
celebrated motherhood all over again with the birth of their youngest son, Bill.
Dot laughingly told the story that how in one weekend she celebrated three
graduations – Judy from LA Tech, Bud from Neville, and Bill from kindergarten.
Dot was a member of numerous organizations including the College Place Garden
Club, Sherrouse PTA, Current Book Club, Memorial Methodist Church UMW, and
she served as president of all the above mentioned. She remained an active
member of the Ft Miro chapter of DAR until her death, and the chapter will long
remember Dot for her performances as “Twinkling Feather” in their programs.
Dot enjoyed serving the community especially through her church and Methodist
faith. She was a regular and dedicated volunteer at the Council on Aging and for
the Council of Community Ministries well into her eighties. She loved making
gumbo and baking cakes for the bazaar tradition that annually occurred at
Memorial Methodist Church for many years. And her jellies and preserves were
always in high demand.
Dot and Buddy served on mission trips with the Methodist Church throughout the
southern United States and to Mexico and Ireland. Their faith led them to Israel
and the holy land which was one of the highlights of their lives that they enjoyed
sharing with others.
Dot enjoyed fishing and long walks along the river levee with Buddy in their
retirement years and “encouraging” him in his vegetable and flower gardens,
while she was cooking, canning and doting over their grandchildren.
Dot was known for her quick wit and keen sense of humor. She told of an instance
when as a child she was confronted by bullies and in that moment ate a big bite of
paste from her container to diffuse the confrontation. It worked but her mother
was confounded as to why she had to keep buying more paste.
She was also unfortunately well known for the endearing custom of tasting little
bites of food or treats off the plates of others which became a curious trademark.
It may have bothered others but it didn’t bother Dot. In that same respect, she
was also well known and lovingly tolerated for her punctuality or lack thereof.
Dot’s pace finally slowed in the last decade of her life, but not the joy of her
laughter or the smiles that were selflessly given and received in return from her
family and her friends. Dot valued people much more than things, finding the
beauty and humor in most of life’s situations, and she encouraged her loved ones
to see a glass half full rather than half empty.
Dot loved her family unconditionally more than anything, and her family left no
doubt in her mind that each loved her in that same manner.
Dot is preceded in death by her husband, Buddy, and her son, Edgar L. (Bud)
Harrison, Jr. Dot was the matriarch of five generations. She is survived by her daughter, Judith
Ann “Judy” Foret and her husband Delvin; her daughter‐in‐law Carolyn Lee
Harrison; her son, William Washburn “Bill” Harrison and his wife Brenda; seven
grandchildren and fifteen great‐grandchildren, including Shellie Foret Clement
(Paul), and their children Emilie and Bali; Jeannie Harrison Brock (Stephen) and
their children Jennifer, Taylor and Patrick; Gary Harrison (Christa) and their child
Lee; John Leach (Chris) and their children Amie, Brent, Kate, Daniel and David;
Steve Leach (Faith) and their children Brittany and Kyle; Dorobeth Harrison
Windham (Chris) and their children Lillybeth and John Chris; and Katie Harrison.
Dot is also survived by twelve great‐great grandchildren.
The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to the staff of St Joseph’s
Assisted Living Center and especially offer our thanks to her devoted caregivers,
Ruby Jones and Mary Addison, who lovingly served Dot with enduring compassion
throughout her final years.
Private graveside services for the family under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral
Homes will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery on Monday, December 21, 2020.
An event to celebrate her life will be planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to The Food Bank of
Northeast Louisiana or The Salvation Army or the charity of your choice.