HALLS CROSSROADS, Tenn. — The heartbreak in Karen Harrison's voice was unmistakable.
"The funeral... that's the hard part because I ain't going to be able to see him again," she said in tears. "It was the hardest part because I didn't want him to be that way, I wanted him to come home for Christmas."
She spoke at a candlelight memorial for her husband Jack, missing for nearly three weeks.
The 77-year-old suffered from dementia and got separated from his family at a Halls Walmart on Nov. 17.
After 20 days missing -- searchers found his body over the weekend.
"We looked hard every day, every day, every day," Karen Harrison said.
But even in her sadness, there is hope of keeping his memory alive. At the memorial, 30 or so people -- some with no connection to the family -- arrived to support them.
Among the attendees, Stephanie Gamble's family. They were the searchers who found his body Saturday in Beaver Creek.
"I guess I just kept thinking that if it was my dad, my husband, my grandfather, I would want a stranger to help them as well," Gamble said.
Karen Harrison asked them to serve as pallbearers.
"They didn't even know us, didn't even know us. Had never met us, had never saw us to come together like this for a family they didn't know to help bring closure to this family," she said. "Everybody came together... that's what brought him back to us."
The family has asked for donations to Mynatt Funeral Home in Halls in lieu of flowers -- that will help them pay for services.
The reception will be held at Mynatt Funeral Home at 4131 East Emory Road from 5 to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Knox County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday the Knox County Medical Examiner positively identified the man recovered from Beavercreek Saturday was Jack Harrison.
Sheriff Tom Spangler issued the following statement:
"I want to personally thank each one of my Detectives, Officers, K-9's and Civilian employees who spent numerous hours searching for Mr. Harrison. The entire Halls Community, as each of you have shown the true definition of what "community" really means. To all of our sister agencies that came to assist in the search, their K-9's, their Officers and to the many residents of Knox County and beyond who shared the photo and description of Mr. Harrison in hopes of bringing him home safely. Lastly, to the media, I appreciate your hard work and the efforts that each of you made to keep his story going."
"To the Family and Friends of Mr. Harrison words are inadequate for your loss. On behalf of my Family and our Knox County Sheriff's Office Family we send you our sincere condolences and heartfelt prayers."