Stanley Ralph Harrington
May 18, 1945-Aug. 10, 2015
On Aug. 10, 2015, Stan Harrington, 70, died peacefully at his home in Anchor Point with his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren at his side.
Stan, one of seven children, was born on May 18, 1945, in Montrose, Colo., to Vern and Lena Harrington. In his teens, the family moved to Alaska and settled in the Homer and Anchor Point area. In 1959, his parents opened “Harrington’s Fishing Shack” on the Anchor River. It was along the banks of the Anchor River that Stan discovered his love for trout and salmon fishing.
After graduating from Homer High School in 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and began a 20-year career for which he was passionate. In 1966, when home from sea duty on the aircraft carrier USS Shangri La, he fell in love with and married his fellow high school classmate, Terry Lynn Epperson. The couple moved to Florida and Stan went to sea in the Mediterranean.
In 1967, Stan was transferred to Adak, Alaska, and it was here that the first two of their four children were born — Shane and Shana. In 1970, Stan and Terry moved to Hawaii where Stan served on the USS Ponchatoula in the Philippines. During this time, Stan decided he wanted to be home with family rather than at sea. He trained to be a recruiter and the family moved to Durango, Colo. While in Durango, Stan and Terry were blessed with their third child, Heidi.
The family was later transferred to Grand Junction, Colo., and later to the Naval Air Station on Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, Wash. There, he served as a Navy Counselor with the VA 95th squadron and it was here that he and Terry had their fourth and final child, Heath.
After another transfer, this time to Anchorage, Alaska, where he served in the Naval Recruiting Station, Stan finished his 20-year naval career, retiring as a Navy Counselor Chief Petty Officer in 1983.
After retiring, the family moved back to Homer and then to Anchor Point, where he was finally able to get back to his beloved Anchor River and the fishing he loved so much. His dream was always to someday own a tackle shop and that dream came true when, in 1985, he was able to purchase a perfect little piece of land right across the road from the Anchor River Bridge and build his pride and joy, the Anchor Angler. During the summer months, in addition to running the tackle shop, Stan did a daily radio broadcast called the Kenai Peninsula Sports Fishing Report and became an essential part of every sports fisherman’s day.
With the summers so busy, winters were slow, so Stan decided to purchase a local video store in Anchor Point and later, another video store in Homer. The last fishing report coincided with the closing of the Anchor Angler and video stores, and in 2007 Stan finally and truly retired.
After retirement, Stan and Terry built their dream home overlooking the Anchor River valley and settled in to enjoy their grandchildren. Watching them grow up and spending time with them was his truest joy. He also loved his flower gardens and, with a lot of help from Terry, created a large and beautiful garden that provides enjoyment to all who see it and was a great solace to Stan as his health failed.
“Stan will be greatly missed by all that knew him as well as the many that knew him by his voice on the fishing report on the radio,” his family said.
Stan was preceded in death by his parents, Vern and Lena Harrington; his brothers; Tad and Don Harrington; his sister, Dorothy Miller and her husband, Cliff; his son, Shane Harrington; and his beloved dog, Dutch.
He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Terry; his youngest son, Heath Harrington and spouse Erica Harrington; daughter, Shana Baxter and spouse Eric Baxter; daughter Heidi Mclay and spouse John Mclay; 14 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
