City of Oaks Funeral Home & Cremation

Obituary
Thomas Harrison

Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina

Age 75.
Died 03/27/2025.

Thomas Harrison
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Thomas Oscar Harrison, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, who left this world on March 27, 2025, at the age of 75. Born on October 14, 1949, Tom lived a life rich in love, laughter, and service, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be cherished by those who knew him.

Tom is survived by his devoted wife of 41 years, Alecia, who was not only his partner in life but also his greatest supporter and sweetheart. Together, they built a beautiful family, which includes their son Ben (Kathleen) and daughter Lori (Jillian), who carry forward his spirit of kindness and adventure. He
was a proud grandfather to his cherished granddaughter, Madeline, who brought immense joy to his life.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, Robert Harrison and Mary Lorraine Harrison, and a brother, Robert E. Harrison.

Tom is also survived by his brother Dickie (Kathy), his uncle Larry (Virgie), and a host of nieces and nephews who will forever hold dear the memories of their time spent with him. His warmth, humor, and unwavering love will continue to resonate in the hearts of his family and friends.

Tom was a man of service, dedicating his early years to the U.S. Navy as an FMF corpsman attached to the Marines during the Vietnam War, where he exemplified courage and compassion. Following his twelve years of military service, he devoted the rest of his career to nursing, where his gentle touch and caring heart made a profound impact on countless lives. Tom was the first Baylor nurse hired at Rex Hospital, worked many years in the Cardiac Care Unit and started the Cardiac Rehab program. His commitment to helping others was a testament to his character and the values he held dear.

Known for his playful spirit, Tom was a big kid at heart who never missed an opportunity to make others laugh. He had a unique ability to bring joy to any gathering, ensuring that every niece and nephew was equipped with a Nerf gun, ready for fun-filled adventures. He was always up for a spontaneous outing, claiming he was never lost—just taking the scenic route. His zest for life will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

As we celebrate the life of Thomas Oscar Harrison, we remember a man who lived fully, loved deeply, and served selflessly. His legacy of laughter, adventure, and compassion will live on in the stories we share and the lives he touched. In honoring his memory, let us carry forward his spirit of joy and kindness, ensuring that his light continues to shine brightly in our lives.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Tom's life at 3 P.M. on Sunday, April 6 th at the Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Garner, NC . There will also be a memorial service at Windsor Point Retirement Community on Monday, April 7th at 3pm.

Donations can be made to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Garner NC, SPCA of Wake County or a charity of your choice.

For additional information or for service details, please reach out to the family directly.


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City of Oaks Cremation and Funeral Home is a full-service funeral home in Raleigh, serving all of North Carolina and beyond. We provide an alternative to costly funeral homes and every day we help families in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and all over North Carolina make simple, affordable funeral arrangements.

Simply having to reach out to a funeral home can feel overwhelming. Our goal is to simplify the entire funeral home experience and make the process as easy as possible. We hope to eliminate any unnecessary surprises by publishing our total cost and the services we provide directly on our website. All of our obituaries are provided free of charge as a way to help families celebrate and commemorate the lives of their loved ones.

Our Promise

Apples to Apples

Just like all other licensed funeral homes in North Carolina, City of Oaks Cremation, LLC is regulated by the NC Board of Funeral Service.


The same laws that apply to the big corporate funeral homes also apply to the modest independently owned firms like ours. All crematories in North Carolina, regardless of who owns them, are inspected annually by the state and must adhere to the same rules and laws.

Genuine Care

We're committed to providing families within our community unsurpassed service before, during and after the time of loss.


Our staff will provide clear communication to your family through each step as we move forward from the original phone call notifying us of a death to the time we deliver the urn back to your family. We will treat your family with the utmost respect, as we honor the wishes of your loved one.


We promise to make this process affordable and as endurable as possible.

State Wide

Our Funeral Home is located in Wake County NC; however, we provide our services to families throughout the entire State.


Unlike other funeral homes, we don't charge an additional mileage fee. Regardless of what county you live in, we can help your family with making simple, affordable funeral arrangements. From Asheville to Wilmington, we're proud to help families statewide.

Our Services

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Direct Cremation

$1196.75

Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. We include everything you need for a simple or direct cremation. Simple, affordable and reliable. We have not changed the cost of our direct cremation service since we opened City of Oaks in 2012.

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Cremation with Solidified Remains

$2875.66

We offer the option of choosing how you receive your loved ones remains. Selecting our Direct Cremation with Solidified Remains option is a beautiful way to transform cremated remains into 40-60 “stones” that you can hold.

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Cremation with Visitation

$1917.84

City of Oaks Funeral Home and Cremation provides an affordable cremation option with onsite visitation. Nobody likes surprise costs added in at the last minute. We guarantee you will not find any hidden charges here. Simple, affordable and reliable.

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Immediate Burial

$2497.50

An immediate burial has the same end result as a traditional burial; however, we have eliminated the extra (sometimes unnecessary) services prior to getting to the cemetery. Not everyone wants an open casket for viewing or a limousine for the family. Despite the term immediate, we can move as fast as you need or as slow as you like. This option simply allows you to save money by eliminating some of the fancy extras at the funeral home.

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Traditional Funeral

$6081.48

We offer the same traditional funeral services as the big corporately owned funeral homes in the area; however, we cost about half the amount. You might consider a traditional funeral service if your family is looking for an open casket visitation, a traditional church service or a funeral service in the funeral home's chapel. A traditional funeral service can be altered to fit the needs of your family.

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Green Burial

$3033.75

This establishment is one of a select number of funeral homes who meet the criteria for providing green funeral service by the Green Burial Council; a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization working to encourage environmentally sustainability in the field of funeral service. Our Green options allow for a funeral to take place without the use of toxic and non-biodegradable materials/chemicals.

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Aquamation

$2640.59

As an alternative to traditional cremation, City of Oaks Funeral Home also offers Aquamation. The Aquamation process, often referred to as alkaline hydrolysis, uses a solution of water and potassium hydroxide to facilitate natural decomposition.

City of Oaks Funeral Home & Cremations