Evelyn Harrison

September 1, 1913 - June 1, 2018

Evelyn B. Harrison, age 104, of the Town of Nepeuskun, passed away at Agnesian Hospice of Fond du Lac on Friday, June 1, 2018. Evelyn Cluey was born on Sept. 1, 1913 on a farm near Redgranite as the last of three children. When Evelyn was about six years of age her parents moved from the farm to Redgranite, Wisconsin where her father, Albert Cluey, took up work in the quarry. Evelyn was described as a quiet child who customarily played alone, as her sister nearest in age was 10 years older. Evelyn liked a collie named Dixie, who would fetch the cows on their farm. But when the Cluey’s moved to Redgranite, they left the dog at the farm with the new owner. It was later discovered that the new farm owner whipped the dog, so that Dixie would never fetch cows again. Evelyn's heart was broken because of Dixie's fate. Evelyn always loved nature. When she was a little girl, she would join her cousins and others, going into the woods and fields near Redgranite picking wild flowers and berries, sometimes walking two miles on these expeditions. The flowers were then used to create beautiful May baskets, filled with the wild flowers and candy. These baskets were taken on May Day to the elderly ladies and families of Evelyn's neighborhood. Evelyn remembered an old Ford car her folks purchased when she was about 5 years of age. The family took a trip to Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, sleeping outside under a canvas spread over two cars. Originally Evelyn's parents had not planned to bring Evelyn with them, but were going to ask relatives to care for Evelyn instead. However, Evelyn overheard her mother and father discussing the plan, and made such a fuss that the plans were quickly changed to include her! Evelyn described some childhood illnesses, which included a bout with scarlet fever at age 7 years. At the age of 9 years, Evelyn had a "touch" of tuberculosis, which was attributed to the presence of a farm worker who had tuberculosis when Evelyn was very small. A tooth infection lowered her immunity, causing her to manifest the disease easier, it was thought. Evelyn attended the Redgranite Grade School and the Redgranite High School. During the earlier years of high school she went swimming, nearly drowning once while learning to swim. Evelyn often went hiking, sometimes as far as 8 miles, with her cousins and friends. Evelyn took an active part in school activities, as a teen. She was in the senior class play, and went to the junior prom. As a senior in high school, she worked in a telephone office. Evelyn always loved music. She learned to play the piano well, since the age of 8 years. She would meet friends in their homes for piano music and singing, sometimes late into the evening hours. Evelyn remembered the onset of popular public use of radios when she was in high school. She remembered visiting neighbors to hear their new radio, but the hosts kept apologizing because their new radio could not be heard much above a squeak, even though it had an aerial several feet long, and earphones for listening. Evelyn graduated from the Redgranite High School in 1931 with a class of about 40. She went on to attend the Green Lake County Normal School to become a school teacher. This training school was located in Berlin, Wisconsin, which later became the site of the Lincoln School of Berlin. Evelyn completed her training, and taught the Sacramento School, located northeast of Berlin. Evelyn later married, and had 3 girls, the oldest being Janet by a first marriage. Evelyn married Kermit Harrison on December 18, 1940. Two more daughters, Adair and Cherie, were born to this union. Kermit and Evelyn moved to the Town of Nepeuskun farm in March of 1941. Evelyn became a successful entrepreneur, together with her husband Kermit. She became an active member of the community, belonging to the Waukau Methodist Women's local church group, and the local homemakers club. Evelyn is survived by her children and their families, Janet (James) Smith of Littleton, CO, and their children; Rosalind Janet (Donald) Gray of Taft, Texas, Carrie Evelyn (Mark) Beaty of Le Flore, Oklahoma, Laurrie Adair (Norbert) White) of Disputanta, Virginia, Eugene (Kelly) Shrock of Buda, Texas, Dallas, Harrison (Sheri) Wortham of Lacey, Washington, 15 great grandchildren, April Amanda Helgerman daughter of Rosalind and Donald Gray, Taft TX, Paul Houston Simon Gray (Amber Gray) son of Rosalind and Donald Gray, San Antonio, TX, Donald Jessie Sturm son of Carrie and Mark Beaty, Deceased, Lance Sturm son of Carrie and Mark Beaty, Leflore, OK, Rachelle Marie Odem (Daniel Odem) daughter of Laurrie and Norbert White, Eagle River, AL, Tiffanie Danielle Doyle (Ryan Doyle) daughter of Laurrie and Norbert White, Saint Mary's GA, Amanda Rose Hensel (Nathan Hensel) daughter of Laurrie and Norbert White, Lynchburg, VA, William Arthur White, II son of Laurrie and Norbert White, Disputanta, VA, Kelly Nicole Haldeman (Michael Haldeman) daughter of Laurrie and Norbert White, Jackson, TN, Jason Coates (Lorena Coates) son of Laurrie and Norbert White, Coupeville, WA, Jaron Eugene Shrock son of Kelley and Eugene Shrock, Buda, TX, Janson Herschiel Shrock son of Kelley and Eugene Shrock, Buda, TX, Collin Dallas Wortham son of Sheri and Dallas Wortham, Lacey, WA, Lee Fredrick Wortham son of Sheri and Dallas Wortham, Lacey, WA, Kiera Margaret Wortham daughter of Sheri and Dallas Wortham, Lacey, WA; 12 great-great grandchildren; Dixie Rose Helgerman daughter of April Helgerman, Paul Houston Simon Gray, Jr. son of Amber and Paul Gray, Helena Sturm daughter of Lance Sturm, Ciara Sturm daughter of Lance Sturm, Eli Sturm son of Lance Sturm, Kielah Odem daughter of Rachelle and Daniel Odem, Kaden Odem son of Rachelle and Daniel Odem, Kaleb Odem son of Rachelle and Daniel Odem, Mary Odem daughter of Rachelle and Daniel Odem, Agnes Odem daughter of Rachelle and Daniel Odem, Rylei Doyle daughter of Tiffanie and Ryan Doyle, Kaitlyn Doyle daughter of Tiffanie and Ryan Doyle. Adair (Ernest) Zwiener of Horicon and their children, Andrew (Sandy) Haze, William Joseph (Debbie) Haze, and Frances Zwiener; and grandchildren, Justin D Haze of Arvada, CO, Jonathan A Haze of Arvada, CO, Jenna Elyssa Haze of Mississauga, Ontario Canada. She is further survived by her daughter, Cherie (James) Michalowski of Milwaukee, WI. She is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Amanda Cluey; husband, Kermit Harrison; sisters and brother-in-law’s, Hazel (Leonard) Leach and Lucille (Tom) McGregor.