John W. Harrell

John was born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Carlsbad, NM. In high school, he had three loves; basketball, football, and Jo Ann. He was on the high school championship basketball team two years in a row prior to marrying his sweetheart, Jo Ann in 1955. Being 17 years old at graduation, his work day consisted of delivering milk to homes, mowing city properties, and operating the City of Carlsbad’s Ferris wheel at the river’s beach. At 18, he was old enough to join the U.S. Potash Mines. After a few hard years in the dirty and dangerous mines, it was time to continue his education. 

In 1959, with two babies in tow, he moved his family to Dallas, TX. After his years of higher education in electronics, his career took off in the oil and gas industries. He had many patents with several research and development companies in Texas. He travelled extensively throughout the world doing technology exchanges and/or presenting papers in Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Switzerland, and London.  He retired from Director of Technologies at Halliburton in 1999. Never able to sit idle in his retirement years, he partnered with his son, Matt Harrell, and started QuickTurn Technologies in Waxahachie.  In his spare time, he was an active member of the Waxahachie Golf Club. A devout Christian, John was a faithful member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Waxahachie. 

John was preceded in death by his grandson, Chris Harrell. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Jo Ann, his daughter Meg Habasevich (Bob), his sons Matt (Tootie) and Macky (Darlene); his grandchildren Laura Harrell Sublette (Nate), Colby Harrell, Jennifer Harrell, Cody Thornburg, Stephanie (Dustin) Ingold, Suzie Johnson, Andrew (Jessica) Habasevich; and great grandchildren Alex Harrell, Easton and Jace Thornburg, Julia Ingold, and Sloan Habasevich.

In lieu of flowers, you may send donations to Christ the King Lutheran Church Building Fund or Cal Farley Boys Ranch.