— Leola (Maxfield) Harrison of Porum, Oklahoma was born April 24, 1923 in Porum, Oklahoma to Sherman Preston and Anna Isabell (Lewis) Maxfield and passed away November 27, 2012 in Stigler, Oklahoma at the age of 89.

She attended Porum schools and graduated as valedictorian of her senior class in 1940.

After high school graduation, she joined her sister, Verlene, at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, and majored in Business Education.  While there, she worked for the Dean of Women.  In her junior year, World War II was full swing and all the teachers had been called to the military service, so the State’s schools were looking for teachers to take their place.  The State offered Leola an opportunity to start teaching while still taking her college classes and she accepted.  Her first teaching assignment was in Webbers Falls during the summer before the cotton was harvested.

When Fall came and the students went to the fields, she had an opportunity to take a teaching position at Coweta.  She was there approximately two years, all this time still taking classes through NSU to complete her education and get her teaching certificate.  Her younger brother, Vernor, joined the military and was sent to Normandy where he was killed February 2, 1945.  This was a devastating blow to the entire family and Leola felt she needed to be back in Porum with her family.  It just so happened that the Business teacher at Porum had moved and they needed a teacher to take her place.  Leola took the job and stayed there until May 1985.

She met the love of her life, Robert A. Harrison, in Porum, and they were married June 14, 1947.  They were happily married 41 years.  To that union they had one son, Gregory Paul, and one daughter, Sharon Gail.  Robert passed away in May, 1988.

She loved teaching school.  She loved the students most of all she was so pleased to hear of the accomplishments of each of her students.  She was so proud of each and every one of them.  She was especially pleased if they reported to her that she was an inspiration for their success.

She loved having dinners at the Porum Senior Citizens Center and spending time with her sister and their friends.

Leola volunteered a great deal of her time with the Porum United Methodist Church, Eastern Star and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She very much enjoyed attending the Quinton United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women’s Group meetings.

She is survived by one daughter, Sharon Frame and husband, Mike, of Quinton, OK, one son, Greg Harrison and wife, Kim, of Richmond, TX, four grandchildren, Drew Frame, Kelli Harrison Bayouth, Kaci Frame and Madison Harrison four great grandchildren, Alexandra Bayouth, Isaiah Frame, Beau Bayouth and Brooks Bayouth. Several nieces, nephews and cousins. Leola was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Harrison; two sisters, Helene Maxfield and Verlene Stewart; two brothers, Amos Maxfield and Vernor Maxfield (killed in WWII); and her parents.

Funeral Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, December 1, 2012 at Porum Assembly of God Church with Pastor Sherry Heath officiating. Burial will follow in Coleman Cemetery  under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home & Crematory of Stigler.  Viewing will be at Mallory Chapel-Porum Thurs. & Fri. 4 pm to 8 pm.

Pallbearers will be Larry Stewart, James Hughes, Billy Hughes, Harlan Hughes, Bill Gandy and Don Parker. Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Frame, Roscoe Neal, Marvin Wiggins, Bob Oates, Lloyd Pratchard, and Bennie Martin.

Memorials Contributions may be made to Coleman Cemetery Account, C/O American Legion Post #317 PO Box 504, Porum,OK 74455