Russell Leon Harrison

Russell Leon Harrison, aged 86 of Oklahoma City, OK passed peacefully away on August 17th 2026, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Donna Overly Harrison, his son, Homer Burt Harrison and numerous others who consider him Dad, Grandpa, Brother and friend. He is preceded in death by his brother David Jerome Harrison, his nephew Ferrin Daniel Harrison and parents Homer Daniel Harrison and Sarah Elizabeth Burt.

Russell had an endless devotion to education and high achievement in all of his endeavors. As a teen, he achieved his Eagle Scout award and earned his Pilot’s license. He graduated from the University of Missouri, Kansas City with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1967.

He loved his country and community, serving it honorably in the Army Dental Corp with a 4-year dental internship serving first at Ft. Benning, GA for a year and a tour of three years in Mannheim, Germany. It was there where he would meet his future wife, Maria Weiss, whom he married in 1972 and had one son, Homer.

After the Army he joined his brother David, also a dentist in Columbia, Missouri and shared a practice for several years before establishing his own. Russell returned to Dental School at the age of 44 to obtain his specialty degree in Periodontics simultaneously with his Masters Degree in Oral Biology. He then became the first Periodontist in the Central Missouri Region to be Board-Certified by the American Academy of Periodontology within the three-year time limit after graduation.

He practiced Periodontics for 25 years while additionally operating in various government capacities such as serving in the Missouri State Dental Board and providing Forensic Odontology work for the County Examiner’s office, performing a number of high profile identifications.

As an educator, soon after the 1989 fall of communism Russell self-funded academic tours to the State Dental Schools in Romania over a span of 6 years, providing modern textbooks, dental equipment and masterclass instruction, while making life-long personal and professional connections there. In the United States he taught Dental Forensics at the Law Enforcement Training Institute at the University of Missouri.

After retiring from Dental Practice at the age of 72, Russell would attend the very same Law Enforcement Academy where he taught, graduating as the Class President and then volunteering his time as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff in Howard County, Missouri for 6 years.

He would spend a total of 47 years in Columbia before relocating to Prescott, Arizona.

Russell was a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, holding the highest eternal aspirations for all mankind. He had a heart full of service toward those in need and anyone who crossed his path. He would share his time, his home, his many skills, his substance or his wise counsel. He loved and took pride in his family and friends, making great efforts to call, write letters or visit in-person regardless of the travel distance required. He found great joy in compiling an extensive library of family history and of those who were influential in his life. He was a stalwart member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; he and Donna served a mission to the congregation in Bagdad, AZ for 18 months to train and instruct the members in the Music Program. He also served in many leadership and teaching positions with the youth, the missionaries and sang in the choir. He had a great curiosity about other people and a gift for striking up conversation with nearly anyone, sharing his belief in Jesus Christ and how Christ affected his own life.

He leaves a legacy of knowledge, temperance and genuine love.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.