Richard L. Harrison

Cheryl Darlene Thorne

Richard L. Harrison

(1940 - 2012)

Richard was born June 30, 1940 in Susanville, Calif. to Richard and Helen Harrison. He died July 27, 2012 at Enloe Hospital in Chico, Calif., with his sons, Andrew and Christopher Harrison, at his side. He was 72.

Richard grew up in Susanville and attended Lassen High School where he played trumpet in the orchestra, played football and was an honors student. On graduation in 1958, he left to study at the University of California at Berkeley.

Through his lifelong friend Milton Morton he met his wife, Suzanne Soults, in Chico in 1964. They were married in Tulare Aug. 22, 1964. They were married for 48 years until her death in March of this year. They returned to Chico, where Suzanne continued her studies at Chico State University and Richard worked. In 1965, they moved back to Berkeley, Calif., where Richard continued his studies.

On completion of Richard's studies, they returned to Chico, where Richard went to work in public accounting for Kent Ahlswede, CPA, and became a father with the birth of son, Andrew James, on July 21, 1967, and son, Christopher Paul, on May 20, 1969. Richard was an active and involved father, providing stability, love and counsel to his family. He never missed a Little League game, nor a youth soccer game. He attended high school football games to watch son, Andy, and high school soccer games to watch son, Chris.

Richard became a Certified Public Accountant and opened his own practice in 1972.  In 1977, he merged his practice with George Daily, thereby establishing Harrison-Daily Accountancy Corporation. HDAC was a great source of pride and purpose for him. He was diligent, understanding the important role his work provided Chico and the north state. Professionally and personally, Richard was known for his work ethic and integrity. Through his avid membership in the Exchange Club for more than 35 years — of which he was president for a time — he enjoyed working for and in the Chico community. Additionally, he was an enthusiastic contributing member to the Chico Science Museum. In particular, the study of paleontology was a constant passion for his entire life, which occupied much of his free time.  

In Richard’s final years he was most fond of spending time with his sons, their wives, and especially his grandchildren. Richard also enjoyed keeping in touch with a few close friends and with his brother, Ronald, and his wife, Elvira.

Richard is survived by his brother, Ronald, and his wife Elvira Harrison, of Susanville; their children, sons, Ronald Jr. and John Harrison, and daughter, Suzanne Peery; and their children, Sean, Emma and Colin (Ronald Jr.); Ryan, Caleb, Rileigh, Jennifer and John Jr. (John); and Tyler, Nicolas and Brandon (Suzanne). He is survived by his youngest brother, George, and his wife, Joy Harrison, of Susanville; their daughter, Katelyn, and her daughter, Aylah. He is also survived by the children of his deceased younger brother, Robin: Robin Jr. and Terry.

He is also survived by his son, Andrew James, and his wife, Charlene, and their daughters, Lindsay and Alyssa, of Red Bluff, Calif.; and son, Christopher Paul, and his wife, Anne Harrison-Marchand, and their son, Gabriel, and daughter, Emmanuelle, of Rouen, France.

Richard requested that no service be held, however for those who might want to remember him, a contribution in his name to Chico Science Museum would be wonderful. Richard and his wife, Suzanne, will be placed in the Chapel of Light corridor at the Chico Memorial Mausoleum located at 680 Camellia Way.

Cheryl Darlene Thorne

Cheryl Darlene Thorne was born in Toledo, Ohio on March 31, 1950 and passed away on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, at the age of 62.

Cheryl is survived by her husband, Samuel Thorne, of Alturas, Calif.; brothers, Larry Doll, of La Crescenta, Calif., Dana Doll, of Washougal, Wash. and William Doll, of Reno, Nev.; and her children, Anthony Valdovinos, of Susanville, Calif., TJ and Jessica Valdovinos, of Susanville, Fresca and Brad Langslet, of Roseville, Calif., Mathew Valdovinos, of Citrus Heights, Calif. and Rebecca Valdovinos, of Chico, Calif.; as well as 11 grandchildren.

Cheryl moved to the Susanville area in 1979 where she raised her children and obtained her associate’s degree from Lassen Community College. She worked at the Bureau of Land Management and California Correctional Center. In 1995, she married and relocated to Eureka, Calif. and then to Alturas in 2008. She was a member of the Alturas congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She enjoyed traveling, camping and fishing with her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph Doll, of Hornell, N.Y. and Juanita Doll, of Susanville and her granddaughter, Jasmin Irene Shepard.

A memorial service for Cheryl will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 1400 W. 4th St., Alturas. Donations may be made to the Alturas congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses.