Donald Harbison

A much loved family member, Donald Ray Harbison, 92, passed peacefully in his sleep from this life to the next on January 10, 2023.

Don was born in Wills Point, Texas on September 13, 1930, to Roy and Lessie Harbison, one of six children. When Don was eight, they moved to the valley. He grew up in the faith of the Church of the Nazarene. At Edcouch Elsa High School, he was president of the Future Farmers of America, was a captain of the football team, and was voted most handsome. He had a good head for math, being able to compute difficult problems in his mind without need of physical aids. He married soon after high school and became the father of three precious children, Mike, Judy, and Mark. He tried his hand at farming, but two years of drought made it hard. He then became a milk man, delivering milk house to house for Golden Jersey. In 1964, he began work at Celanese in Bishop and retired as a supervisor from there in 1994. In the meantime, Don married again and adopted two more children, Brian and Wynona. He loved all of his family greatly.

He was the last living of his brothers and sisters. He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Carl, Lee Roy, and Glen; his sisters, Billie Willis and Betty Pate; his first- wife, Sue Brown; and three grandchildren, Jennifer, Sarah, and Dakota Sky Harbison.

In 1987 he married Jo Ellen Havens for his happily- ever – after. They were working on 36 years together and had enjoyed a fun and joyful marriage.

Don was a good man with a great sense of humor and according to Jo Ellen, he had the “cutest legs in Texas”. Jo Ellen enjoyed his whole family- a large group of fun- loving, caring, and dependable people.

Don is survived by his wife, Jo Ellen; his five children, Michael Don Harbison (Debby), Judy Beall, Mark Preston Harbison (Melanie), Brian Harbison, and Wynona Harbison; eight grandchildren and numerous well -loved great- grands and great- great- grands.

Visitation will be on Saturday, January 28, 2023, at 2:00 PM, with a chapel service at 3:00 PM at Turcotte Piper Mortuary.