Obituary: Harrison, Olive (Maher)
Age 100
She was born May 1, 1914 at the family cattle ranch near Jordan Valley, Oregon, the first child of Ed and Clara Swisher Maher.
She was followed by her brother, Bill, and sisters, Ellyn, Teresa and Marjorie.
She attended school in Boise and graduated from Jordan Valley High School in 1931 at age 17.
After graduation, she moved to Boise to attend Business College, and was soon hired by the city’s Water Company.
While employed there, she met Faris Harrison, and the two were married in May of 1937.
The couple moved to the Spokane Valley in the 1940s, later buying a house in Millwood in 1945, where they raised their family.
Olive was a member of St. Paschal’s Parish for over 65 years.
Olive enjoyed travel, visiting Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska with her husband.
After he passed away in 1981, she spent time in Europe, seeing England, Ireland, Austria and Italy.
She later traveled to Fiji and New Zealand, and made numerous trips to Boise and the Oregon coast to visit family.
She spent much of her time painting with her watercolor group and sewing quilts and crafts for presents; later adding decorative card-making and mandala painting to her skills.
She kept up her interest in, and enjoyment of, reading and music throughout her life, and loved learning new things as an adult, from watercolor techniques to new craft skills to field geology.
Her recipe for a long life - “never miss a party.”
She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and Clara; husband, Faris; sisters, Ellyn and Teresa; and brother, Bill.
Olive is survived by sister, Marjorie Cartwright, of Boise, Idaho; by children, Marilee Nord, Spokane Valley, Janice Thorne, Spokane, Kathleen Jackson, Wenatchee, and Brian Harrison (Margaret) of Astoria, OR; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be held at St. Paschal’s Parish, Spokane Valley, in June.
Notice of date will be published at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Catholic Charities Spokane, 12 E. 5th Avenue, Spokane, WA 99202, or charity of one’s choice.