Charles S. Harrison

April 15, 1938 ~ October 6, 2014
Charles S. Harrison passed away peacefully on October 6, 2014 after battling cancer for over one year. His family was by his side during his final week.
Charles was born on April 15, 1938 in Dennehotso, AZ to Emmett B. Harrison and Sheshi Nakai Harrison. He was eight of 11 children.
He was raised by his grandparents for a short time and primarily raised by his uncle, Peairs Nakai. He attended boarding schools in Fort Wingate and the Phoenix Indian School. In high school, he attended American Fork High School on the LDS Placement Program and graduated in 1958.
He met Beverly Murphy while attending Brigham Young University. They were married on July 10, 1959 in Ely, NV. They were sealed in the Manti Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1965. They were blessed with eight children.
Charles graduated from BYU with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services in 1969. His employment history included positions at Utah Job Services, UNDC, Goshute Tribe, and Navajo Nation Department of Behavioral Health. It is with his job as a Substance Abuse Counselor that he found his true passion for helping people.
Charles was a man of faith and strong testimony. He served in many Church callings and loved to share his knowledge with others.
Education was an important principle he passed on to his family. He spent his lifetime reading, researching, and sharing what he had learned with his children and others.
At the time of his passing, he was in the process of writing a book about his spiritual journey and the Navajo path of enlightenment. Much of it was centered on his faith and his knowledge of gospel principles.
Charles loved spending time with his family, traveling, hunting, watching sports, doing yard work, and just being outside.
He could usually be found in the backyard building a fire and making Dutch oven potatoes or a mean pot of beans.
Charles was a friend to all and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He loved life and loved to make people smile and laugh. He was a wonderful dad and grandpa!
Charles is preceded in death by his parents and four brothers.
He is surved by his wife Beverly, and children Miles (Stephanie) Harrison; Lisa (Steve) Palmer; Celeste (Tony) Dayish, all of Blanding, UT; Sheila (Chrys) Jaymes of Salt Lake City, UT; Spintz Harrison of Bowling Green, OH; Nicole Harrison (Tony Begay) of Phoenix, AZ; Geniel Harrison (Lyle NoisyHawk) of Yuma, AZ; and Sharla (Ben) Letham of Boston, MA; ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on October 9, 2014 at the LDS Stake Center. Interment at the Blanding Cemetery.
Card of thanks
The family of Charles Harrison wishes to express their sincere, heartfelt gratitude for the many acts of kindness shown to us during the passing of our beloved father. Thank you so much for the food, donations, flowers, cards, visits, prayers, and love shown to us during our time of need.
A special thank you is extended to the doctors and nurses at Blue Mountain Hospital, where our family gathered every night to spend time with our dad. Thank you for the food and use of the conference room for meeting.
We appreciate the Blanding Third Ward Bishopric and Relief Society for their services provided at the funeral and Danny Palmer of San Juan Mortuary for his well-organized and professional services. We especially loved the picture video.
Enough gratitude cannot be expressed about the outpouring of love we have received. We truly appreciate everyone’s thoughtfulness. Thank you!
Beverly Harrison
Miles, Stephanie Harrison
Lisa, Steve Palmer
Celeste, Tony Dayish
Sheila, Chrys Jaymes
Spintz Harrison
Nicole Harrison, Tony Begay
Geniel Harrison, Lyle NoisyHawk
Sharla, Ben Letham

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