Individual Details

Posted at findagrave.com: Ivan Ezra Harrison - Born in Garden City, Missouri, Ivan grew up on the family farm and graduated from the Garden City Schools. Already a singer, he attended the Kansas City Conservatory of Music to study voice. While in Kansas City, Ivan worked as a bellman at the Muehlbach Hotel where he served stars, politicians and colorful locals who provided him a wealth of great stories to share with family and friends. In 1941 Ivan was called to the Army serving at Guadal Canal. In the tropics he contracted malaria and was returned to the States through San Francisco to Kennedy Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. After 3 months in the hospital he returned to duty as an MP in Fort Worth, Texas, (another source of great stories) and the place he met and later married Joan Schlottman, February 17, 1944. Their first child Jean was born October 30th, 1945. As a family, they returned to work the family farm in Garden City. At that time Ivan was involved with music again singing in church, a barber shoppe quartet and playing in band with his friends Don Pollard, Coby Schrock and others. Ivan and Joan adopted John, Ivan's nephew, in October, 1948. John was 4 months old. Soon after, the family moved to Grandview, Missouri where Ivan worked for Westinghouse Corporation as a security guard. On October 8th, 1952 Janet was born and then Jackie, January 25th, 1954. With four children to raise, Ivan often worked two jobs to make ends meet.In 1957 an opportunity to work for Caterpillar Tractor took the family to Denver, Colorado where the children finished school and grew into adulthood. Once again, Ivan made music in church and on special occasions. He worked at Caterpillar until his retirement in 1980.After retiring, Ivan and Joan moved to Harrisonville then soon became snowbirds, wintering in Texas. Several years of traveling led them to Rosebud, Texas, (Joan's childhood home town) where they bought a home. Joan passed away in November of 1992. Ivan moved to Austin, Texas where he returned to his passion of music. He began singing in his church where he had the great fortune to meet Barry Williamson the church Choir Director who had a profound effect on Ivan's final years. Mr. Williamson's interest gave Ivan a new chapter in his musical life. Ivan took vocal lessons and to his delight became the oldest member of the Texas Choral Consort in which he performed great works such as "The Creation" by Franz Joseph Haydn. Ivan often told me how lucky he was to work with "Barry". Throughout his final years Ivan was active, mentally sharp and happy. He enjoyed visiting his four children, six grandchildren and 3 great grand children. Will Rogers said, he never met a man he didn't like. I don't think Ivan Harrison ever met a man, woman or child who didn't like him. His children remember him as "one of the kindest, gentlest of men who loved his family and expressed himself through his wonderful voice and song. (bio by: Juanita Sloan Lowrance)

Birth	3 Jun 1918	Garden City, Cass Co., Missouri
Residence	1920	Age: 1; Age: 7 6/12; Marital Status: Single; Relation to Head of House: Son - Dayton, Cass, Missouri, USA
Marriage	17 Feb 1944	Texas - Joan E. Schlottman
Death	23 Aug 2006	Austin, Travis Co., Texas
Divorce		9 Jul 1992, Falls Co., Texas - Joan E. Schlottman
Alt name		Ivan Harrison
Race		White
Burial		Garden City Cemetery, Garden City, Cass Co., Missouri

Spouse

Joan E. Schlottman (1924 - 1992)

Father	Ezra Reuben Harrison (1889 - 1974)
Mother	Florence Alma Famuliner (1884 - 1948)
Sibling	Glenn F Harrison (1915 - )