William M. Harrison Jr.

William M. Harrison Jr., businessman and civic leader, slipped peacefully from this life in the embrace of his family at his Las Cruces, New Mexico home on August 29, 2024.

 Bill was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on March 21, 1945 to Mississippian parents William M. Harrison Sr. and Martha R. Guice Harrison. The family settled in the lower valley in El Paso Texas in 1947. Bill attended Ysleta and Ramona Grade Schools and graduated from Bel Air High School where he was an athlete and a scholar. He attended Tulane University and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He completed his BBA at the University of Texas at Austin in 1967. 

 Upon graduation, he returned to El Paso and joined the family business, Harrison Office Products, where he worked until retirement. During his 40 year career, he built and grew several related businesses, Harrison Business Interiors, Harrison’s Hallmark, and Harrison-Brown Business Interiors, where he was a mentor to many young people. During his career, he volunteered in his beloved El Paso community serving as Officer and Director of the Mount Franklin Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, El Paso Rehabilitation Center, the Sunturians, and the Sun Carnival Association.

 Bill had a passion for his family homes, four of which he designed and built himself, where he raised his family and finally retired, finding joy and peace in the Organ Mountains above Las Cruces. Bill had a great appreciation and aesthetic for design and art. In retirement, he collected numerous paintings, sculptures, and antique canes and walking sticks spanning centuries and from all over the world, amassing a unique collection of over 350. 

 For 30 years, he especially loved spending time at his home in Santa Fe with family and friends. He was a planner of wonderful family trips and vacations. The pinnacle of his life’s work and his pride and joy is the family for whom he was a guide, counselor, visionary, support, conversationalist, humorist, travel planner, photographer, and sound effects man. 

 Bill is survived by his high school sweetheart and adoring wife of 58 years Betty Brown Harrison; three cherished daughters and their husbands, Sadie Harrison-Fincher (Allyn) of Fort Worth, Katherine Harrison-Rogers (Merek) of Las Cruces, Martha Paterson (Tom) of Houston; seven grandchildren, Hollis, Harrison, and Paul Fincher (Lauren), Arden and Emerson Rogers, and Will and Sawyer Paterson; and his sister Nancy R. Harrison (Bethsaida) of Las Cruces. 

 We give special thanks to Judith Jimenez, his helper through the final phase of his life and battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

 In memory of Bill’s well-lived life, donations may be made to the El Paso Community Foundation and Mesilla Valley Hospice. A private celebration of life and gathering of family and friends will be planned for October.