Patsy Lea (Hamilton) Harrison

Pat Harrison, 84, of Eureka, KS, formerly of Carbondale, KS, passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023 at her home with loved ones by her side.

Pat was born January 19, 1939 in Florence, KS, the daughter of Efton Elsworth Hamilton and Anna Marie (Kerns) Hamilton. At the age of 19 months old she went to live with her grandparents, Frank and Ellen Kerns, in Peabody KS. Later they moved from the farm in Peabody to Florence KS.

She attended Catholic schools and after her grandparents passed away, she moved to Topeka, KS in 1952 to live with her parents and siblings.

On December 24, 1954 Pat was united in marriage to the love of her life, Eugene “Gene” Harrison at Topeka, KS.  Together they raised seven children.  After moving many times in the Western KS. area, in 1964 they settled in Carbondale.  They shared forty-four years of marriage until the death of Gene in 1999.  Pat lived most of her life in the Carbondale, KS community until moving to Eureka, KS in 2015.

Pat started working outside the home when her youngest started school.  She was a cook for Carbondale Grade School for over twenty years before leaving to become the food services director for Osage County Sheriff’s Office working there twenty five years until her retirement in 2015.

A loving mother and homemaker, Pat was a remarkable cook and enjoyed preparing meals and baked goods for her family and friends, especially over the holidays. 

For many years she collected a large library of cookbooks.  Pat was the person all family members turned to when food and decorations were needed for any occasion and especially weddings.

She was an avid mystery book reader, always excited to begin another good book with a plot that she was ready to uncover.  She was also well known in her family for crocheting baby blankets for many of her loved ones over the years. Pat devoted her life to her children and her husband.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Gene Harrison; two daughters, Karen Cartwright, Tammey Harrison; four siblings, Gene Hamilton, Terry Hamilton, Betty Burkett, Edie Vasquez; three grandsons, Adam Timmons, Harrison Michael Springstead, Bradley Padilla; and a son-in-law, Paul Tyrell.

She is survived by her son, Randy Harrison, Vassar, KS; four daughters, Brenda Durkin and her husband, David, Eureka, KS, Kathy Pfannenstiel and her husband, Steve, Topeka, KS, Rhonda Newman, Eureka, KS, Kimberly Timmons and her husband, Bob, Auburn, KS; son-in-law, David Cartwright, Eureka, KS; two sisters, Judy Shively, Carbondale, KS, Margie Mason, Deerfield Beach, FL.; eighteen grandchildren; thirty-six great grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, May 5, 2023 at Grace Community Church, Overbrook, KS.  The family will greet friends for a visitation at the church from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Friday, prior to the service.  The family suggests in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to the Grace Community Church or Good Shepherd Hospice sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 268, Overbrook, KS 66524.  Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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