The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Peggy Ann Harrison, 84 of Orange passed away on January 18, 2024 by loved ones. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday January 22, 2024, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Orange. Officiating will be Father Sinclair Oubre. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Orange. Born in Rowena Tx, on May 20, 1939, she was the daughter of Ervin Klaus and Johnnie (Clark) Klaus. Where she eventually moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico then Big Springs, Tx. Peggy worked at a local place called The Wagon Wheel where she met the love of her life Wayne Harrison. On September 19, 1959, they were married after two dates and only six months after meeting. After they were married, they were stationed in many areas including Guam, Turkey, California, Florida and Maryland also traveling every state they could while the love of her life was in the Navy, and she loved every minute of it. While in Turkey she would teach other Turkish women how the American women would care for their babies. She once threw a Christmas party for the Turkish children and would be amazed on how they loved everything that was given to them and how quiet they were. Peggy and Wayne loved square dancing and being in bowling tournaments. Peggy and Wayne, along with the rest of their family enjoyed spending time with their lifelong friends, Joe and Lucille Durling. They would spend every Christmas together, as well as get together every Sunday. To show you how close these friends were, they purchased burial plots alongside each other. The bunch is finally together and will be able to drink coffee under the big tree. Peggy was a homemaker that could do about anything there was to do. She loved cooking, baking, sewing, oil painting and crocheting. She ended up starting a ceramic shop where her and Wayne would travel doing craft shows. Out of her many hobbies, her favorite hobby along with her love was to search for old furniture in the neighborhood or side of the road. They would refurbish the pieces and then sell them in garage sales or give to people in need. Peggy had a special way with people every where she went. She never met a stranger and was loved and adored by many. She and Wayne enjoyed breakfast every other Sunday at Denny's, or if they became bored, they would take a ride over to the Delta Casino to play the slots. Their favorite lunch spot was Wendy's, where she had a special bond with the people who worked there. She used to love baking cookies on Christmas and other holidays, and she would bring it to them. Peggy was a special human who loved life and all the people in it. She held her family close and loved her friends dearly and continuously built bonds with people everywhere she went. She was preceded in death by the love of her life of 62 years Wayne Harrison, her parents Ervin and Johnnie Klaus; brothers Floyd Klaus and Troy Klaus, great grandson Jase Denton, and daughter in law Cheryl Joy She is survived by her children, Terry Harrison and wife Stephanie of Orange, Mylia Hickman and husband James of Garrison, Laurie Harrison of Orange, Frank Joy of Big Spring, and Leonard Joy and wife Ann of Odessa; fur baby, Minnie; 14 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren with one on the way; 8 great great grandchildren with one on the way; as well as numerous other loving family and friends. Serving as pallbearers will be Terry Harrison, Leonard Joy, Tommy Nguyen, James Hickman, Krisopher Harrison, Jaden Harrison, and V.L. Grimes. Honorary pallbearer is Frank Joy, Ty Neagele, Beckett Crooks and McCoy Griffin.