Bob was born in Big Springs, Texas on October 24, 1943, to the late Willie Douglas “W.D.” Harrell and Ruby Nora Rodgers-Harrell. His parents were farmers and lived near Richland Springs, Texas, where he was the youngest of 6 siblings. Bob was a graduated from Richland Springs High School in 1962. Following high school, he worked for funeral homes in San Saba and Brady, Texas, then went to work for an oil refinery in Odessa, Texas. Bob eventually moved to Dallas, working for an Ambulance Service. He then met the love of his life Marjorie Diane “Dee” Washburn-Alston and her daughter, Cynthia Scarlett Marie, who he later adopted. Bob and Dee were married on January 24, 1971, in Dallas, Texas. After he and Dee were married, he enrolled in Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1972.
After graduating mortuary school and passing the state and national board receiving his dual license as a funeral director and embalmer he went to work for Wright-Morlock funeral home in Brownwood, Texas and then he and his family moved to Mineral Wells, Texas, In June of 1975 they welcomed a new addition to the family, a son, Joshua Allen Harrell. The next seven years he worked for Baum Funeral Home and 8 months for Baum-Carlock-Bumgardner Funeral Home. In February of 1982 Bob, his wife, Dee and 2 children moved to Cross Plains, Texas where Bob was employed by Higginbotham Funeral Home as the Manager of the funeral home.
Bob became an integral part of the community serving those during their time of grief. He was very dedicated to his position and took pride in every aspect of the funeral service and was always very willing to share his knowledge and experience with young people who chose this work. Bob never looked at his career as just a job, he looked at it as his calling and he had a servant’s heart and felt that this was God called him to be.
Even though Bob was not born nor grew up in Cross Plains he called this wonderful caring community his home. Bob immersed his self into the community not only in his job at the funeral home, but he served on Cross Plains City Council for many years, he worked together with the city and other on the city council to get the Senior Citizen Center established, he served as Fire Chief for 15 years for the Cross Plains Fire Department. After the Wildfire that struck the community in 2005, he stepped down from the position of fire chief due to smoke inhalation. Bob was a long-time faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Cross Plains, Texas. Bob served on several boards in the church as well as going on mission trips. Bob enjoyed working on his farm, raising his Barbado Sheep, gardening, canning, hunting, and processing his own meat from his hunts.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, W.D. and Ruby Harrell; brothers, Walter Earl Harrell, and Alfred Leon “Al” Harrell; sister, Nora Charlene Harrell; brothers-in-law, Lynn Albert “Pluto” Faught and William K Washburn; nephews, Jimmie Ray Faught and David Wayne Faught, Glenn Harrell; niece, Anna Liesa Harrell-Barrone; great niece, Kelsey Cheyenne Hillard and his faithful companion Shadow.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Dee Harrell of Cross Plains, Texas; daughter, Scarlett Russell and husband, Delbert of Cross Plains, Texas; son, Josh Harrell of Cross Plains, Texas; 9 grandchildren, Nathan Koettel of Dallas, Texas; Ethan Koettel of Abilene, Texas; Kaitlyn Koettel and fiancé Caleb Hutchens of Abilene, Texas; Justice Watkins of Mineral Wells, Texas; Jacoby Russell of Mineral Wells, Texas; Cadence Russell of Cross Plains, Texas; Lane Harrell and fiancé, Analyssa Longoria of Abilene, Texas; Christian Harrell of Abilene, Texas; Shelby Harrell of Abilene, Texas; 2 great grandchildren, Cidney and Raven Watkins of Mineral Wells, Texas; sister, Betty Laverne Faught of San Saba, Texas; brother, James Douglas “Jim” Harrell and wife, Judy of Malakoff, Texas; sisters-in-law’s; Rhonda Harrell of Malakoff, Texas; Dodie “Dee” Hearn of Richardson, Texas; Addie Lou Washburn of Corinth, Tennessee; dearest friends, Ronnie White and his wife, Charla of Cross Plains, Texas; his nephews, nieces and extended family as well as his adoring faithful furry companion, Gabby.
