Eleanor Maxine (Dooley)

Eleanor Maxine (Dooley) Harrison, 89.

Eleanor Maxine (Dooley) Harrison, 89, passed away on October 28, 2024, at her home in Forsyth, MO.

Eleanor was born on September 14, 1935 in Excelsior Springs, MO to Sherman Lorn and LaVeta Belle (Potter) Dooley. She married John E “Jack” Harrison on November 3, 1956 at the Woods Memorial Christian Church in Excelsior Springs, MO. They were the parents of two children, Leslie and Clay. The family lived in Excelsior Springs until 1970, when they moved to Forsyth.

For many years, Eleanor was a familiar face at the front desk of the Forsyth Library every week. She was a charter member of the White River Valley Historical Society’s “Loom Ladies” traditional crafting and social group and was a charter member/vice-president of the Wagonettes Extension Club when it was formed in 1971. She was a former member of the Calico Cutups sewing group and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (“DAR”), Taneycomo Chapter.

Prior to, and in the early years of marriage, she was a nurse’s aide at the Excelsior Springs Hospital. While her main occupation for the rest of her life was a homemaker, she also did the accounting for the family business, H & H Masonry, until Jack retired.

Eleanor was an avid gardener with a special gift for making perfect compost! While she excelled at many crafts, including quilting, crocheting, looming and tole painting, her favorite craft throughout the years was knitting. Her immediate family, parents, sisters, nieces and nephews looked forward each Christmas to receiving a pair of handmade slippers or stocking caps and many family members still display her intricate Christmas stockings each year.

She loved to collect depression glass over the years, enjoying many fun hours at garage sales and flea markets searching for the perfect piece to add to her collection. When her collection became too large to display, she opened the Dogwood Gift Shop and later she and Jack spent several years selling items in flea market booths in the area.

Eleanor is survived by husband Jack of the home; daughter Leslie Wyman (Rick) of Rueter; son Clay Harrison (Danielle) of Forsyth; grandchildren Valerie Wyman (Abigail) of Springfield; Zachary Burch (Elizabeth) of Galena; and Quincey Shea (Joshua) of Merriam Woods; great-grandchildren Quorrah, Eliana, Zoey, Emmet, Jazmynn, and Zinnia; and (as family jokingly refers to him) her “other son”, mini-Aussie Rascal. Other survivors include her sisters: Nancy Gulley, Colorado Springs CO, Sharon Sheets, Kansas City MO, Linda Hough (Allen), Independence MO, Jackie Rogers, Springdale AR; brother-in law Roy Oliphant, Richmond MO and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was pre-deceased by her parents Sherman and LaVeta (Potter) Dooley; brother Jerry Dooley; sister Lorna Oliphant and brothers-in-law Winston Gulley and Steve Rogers.

Memorial service will be at the Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel Saturday, November 9, 11:00am. Her remains will be interred in the Snapp Cemetery, Forsyth, at a later date. Visitation will be on Friday, November 8, 5:00-6:30pm, at Snapp-Bearden Forsyth Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the following: White River Valley Historical Society, PO Box 841, Forsyth, MO 65653 or Forsyth Library, PO Box 522, Forsyth MO 65653.