George Thomas Harrison

WEAVERVILLE—George Thomas Harrison III, age 68, of Ox Creek Rd., died Monday, March 19, 2012 at home. Born August 4, 1943, in Corner Brook, Newfoundland, to George and Mary Katherine \"Kaye\" (Penney) Harrison. His early years were spent in Corner Brook, and he attended high school in Delaware. He served three years in the Marine Corps and then attended Defiance College in Ohio where he earned a degree in education. He also did graduate work at the University of Tulsa. Early in his career he worked as a high school art teacher, painter, and home builder. For the last 23 years he worked for himself as a furniture maker, taking great pride in the craft and artistry of his work. He especially enjoyed designing and making furniture for friends and family members. George first moved to Asheville in 1974 with his wife to be, Pat Arcuri. They left Asheville for Pat to attend law school and returned in 1985. They bought land in Weaverville where George built the wonderful house they would live in for the rest of their lives. His beloved wife of 32 years, Pat, predeceased George by two years. George loved the company of his many good friends and they returned his affection. He was a wonderfully entertaining teller of stories and jokes, loved to share food and drink with his friends, loved cooking for his friends, and loved talking about any of his wide range of interests especially politics and the world. He was patriotic and had a great love of his adopted country. He and Pat had a special group of friends who shared a long-standing tradition of spending Thanksgiving week together at Edisto Island, South Carolina for many many years, and George continued that tradition after Pat's death. George wanted to be remembered as \"a grateful American and a proud father\" to his daughter, Laura Lea Harrison, who survives him. He is also survived by his son-in-law, Marty Steinberg; his brothers, Bruce Harrison and Thomas Harrison; his sisters-in-law, Nancy Arcuri and Cynthia Arcuri Thacker and their families; his cousin, Stacey Weber, and numerous other family members. A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 3-5 PM, with a sharing of memories beginning at 4 PM, at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in George's memory to Mission of Hope, Bolivia, P.O. Box 103, Charlottesville, VA 22902. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mr. Harrison's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.