JIMMY (JIM) DEAN HARRELL

Jimmy (Jim) Dean Harrell, 78, of Midway, TX, passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at 8:56 pm in Bryan, TX. He was born in Houston, TX, on October 3, 1943, to John and Katie Harrell and was the youngest of four children. Jim graduated from Sam Houston High School in Houston, TX, in 1962. That same year, he met the love of his life, Rebecca Reynolds, at Elwood Baptist Church while playing the piano. He never believed the most beautiful woman in the world would have him, but he still got up the courage to ask her out and, to his surprise, she said, “Yes.” They married after she graduated, June 9, 1963.

Jim and Rebecca started their new life together and, in 1964, their bouncing baby boy, Doug, was born. His precious baby girl, Jenny, came along in 1968. While going to school, Jim was a decorated police officer for the Bryan Police Department. He once single handedly saved a family from a hostage situation by taking out the capturer after facing him down with a handgun to the kidnapper’s machine gun. He was a true hero. It takes grit and determination to raise a family while going to school, and Jim had that in spades. He graduated from Texas A&M with a BA in Business Administration in 1973.

After graduating, he took a job with Firestone as an auditor, and he traveled. He moved his family to St. Charles, Missouri. He was promoted, and the company moved him after a year to San Antonio, Texas.

After three years, Rebecca was tired of him traveling and of the big city, and so was Jim. They moved back home to Midway into the house that they purchased years before and raised their family. It was the house across from Rebecca’s mother, Annie Reynolds, in 1977. In 1985, Jim and Rebecca were happily surprised with the birth of their youngest daughter, Savannah. They lived in the house on Hwy 21 until they moved to their dream home on Antioch Road in 1998.

Jim started a Mac Tool business and opened Madisonville Tire and Service Center, where he and Rebecca had a successful business. In October of 1987, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was given a 2 percent chance to live.

After beating cancer, he sold his business and started working for the State at the Walls Unit. He also was an instructor for Lee College. In 2010, his princess, Rebecca, fell ill with a rare brain disease, and he spent the last years of his life caring for all of her needs until she passed away just shy of three months before his passing. They were blissfully married for “58 years, 253 months, 3,034 weeks or 21,241 days,” he often liked to remind those around him.

Jim was an avid gunman. A patriot to the core who loved his family. He was a well-respected man, who loved the Lord, his family, his State, and his country. He was a disciplined man and very active in his church. He demanded that everyone should always do their best. If you were going to do something, you were going to do it right, nothing halfway. He was a huge believer in protecting the borders of Texas.

He spent many weekends volunteering and protecting them himself, with Texas Bloodhound Team 1.

Jim’s passing comes as a particular shock to the entire community. He was a very strong, determined, vibrant man with many plans. After being Rebecca’s caretaker for many years, he was looking forward to traveling the country in the fifth wheel he was in the market for. He was getting to know his family in new ways and was excited for his future with them with whom he had very close relationships. You never had to wonder where you stood with Jim; he was quick to give you his advice and opinion on how he saw the state of the world. He was an exemplary husband and father and set the example of how a husband loves, honors, and lives his wedding vows. He truly was dedicated to Rebecca. Their union was a true love story and inspiration to all that witnessed it. Jim was a very supportive father. He was tough, loving, and fair. Jim was always the one his family and friends could call upon for anything. He put everyone’s needs ahead of his own. Jim was the quiet, solid foundation of an extensive family for almost 60 years. His unexpected death has everyone shaken to the core, but they are grateful for these past months as he got to spend so much quality time with many of them. Jim will always be remembered with great love and admiration and someone many can look to as a remarkable example of how to live an honorable life. In fact, when he was fighting cancer back in the ‘80s, he once said in his front yard to those there praying for him, “I never exactly felt I had a job to do for God’s Kingdom, but maybe my job is to show the world how a Christian dies.” Against all the odds, he lived another 34 years, and when it was his time to meet God face to face, he indeed had shown the world how a Christian should live and die. He will be missed by many forever!

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Katie Harrell, and siblings, Joyce Harrell Slaughter and Peggy Harrell. His brothers-in-law, Walton Reynolds, Jack Reynolds, Buddy Reynolds, and sisters-in-law, Sunnie Greer, Marie Lohner, Beth Spiller, Grace Wall, and Rita Slaughter-Davis and Barbara Reynolds. He is survived by his children, son Doug Harrell and his wife Dawn, his daughters Jennifer Harrell and Savannah Ferguson and her husband, Mike. His grandchildren Cam Coleman, Morgan Harrell, Micheil Harrell, Mallie Drake, Braelee Harrell, Amber Currie and her husband Cody and their sons Cannon and Kyler, and David Harrison. His sister, Shirley Riddles, and her husband, Oliver. sisters-in-law, Janey Reynolds and, brother-in-law, Billy Davis, brother-in-law Reed Reynolds and his wife Betty Ann, sister-in-law Betty Ann Neal and her husband Les, sister-in-law Vada Robertson and her husband Lee, brother-in-law GG Reynolds and his wife Nita, brother-in-law George Reynolds and his wife Betty, sister-in-law, Sharon Reynolds. Forty-six nieces and nephews, hundreds of great-nieces and nephews, and many more extended cousins and in-laws.

Visitation were held at Day Funeral home, November 5, from 5–7 pm. The celebration of his life was officiated by his nephew, Jody Slaughter, at Elwood Baptist Church; November 6, 2021, at 10 a.m.; Day Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. The graveside service was officiated by