Longtime Grays Harbor resident Nathan M. Harrison passed away peacefully due to small cell lung cancer on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Summit Pacific Medical Center with his wife and son by his side. Nathan was born May 17, 1951, in Burlington, Washington to Jack and Gerda Harrison. He was raised in Edison, Washington until the family moved to Hoquiam in 1960.
Nathan started working in the restaurant business when he was just 16 years old and later he owned his own restaurant and cooked on ocean-going tugboats. He loved to cook and often told stories of cooking for the Dating Game contestants and the Pat Boone Golf Classic guests when they were held in Ocean Shores and also feeding the Seattle SuperSonics.
In 2001 Nathan returned to Grays Harbor to take care of his mother. He took a job at a local funeral home and that is where he met and fell in love with the newly hired mortician, Colleen Mackey-Grant and her little boy. Nathan accepted him as his own and was very proud of him. In 2003, Nathan and Colleen were married. She survives him at the family home.
In 2008, Nathan and Colleen opened Harrison Family Mortuary in Aberdeen. Nathan loved helping people and would often give families his personal cell number so they could speak with him directly even after hours. He retired in 2018 while they built their dream home in East County; Colleen continues to run the business. He lovingly landscaped the property and could often be found puttering around the place on his tractor.
Nathan loved the Lord, and spending time with family and friends. He was a member of Harbor City Church, the Aberdeen Elks and the Montesano Moose Lodge. He loved music and always had a song in his head and was often humming or taping out a tune. Nathan loved his home and sitting outside enjoying nature with his two dogs Ginger and Valor. Nathan and Colleen took several trips; they often went clam digging, fishing and boating. He especially enjoyed flying his drone and riding his Harley.
In addition to his loving wife Colleen, he is also survived by his children Bryan and Angie Harrison, Cpt. William “Bill” Grant (Army), Shaun, Ryan and Randy Kight, several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and two older brothers Jay and Michael Harrison.
Nathan will be laid to rest with a private family graveside service at Wynooche Cemetery in Montesano. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 19, at the Rotary Log Pavilion in Aberdeen.
To share memories or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.harrisonfamilymortuary.com .
