Jeanene Yvonne Harrell

Jeanene Yvonne Hamrick Harrell departed this life to be with her Lord on December 4, 2024. She died peacefully at Grand Brook Memory Care in Allen, Texas, following a six-year battle with dementia.

Born on April 30, 1945 in Austin, Texas, Jeanene was the second of five children and the first of two daughters born to Joseph Leonard Hamrick (1913-1987) and Audrey Duit Hamrick (1922-2005). In 1953 the family moved to Harlingen, near the Gulf Coast of Texas, sparking Jeanene’s lifelong fondness for the beach. Most importantly, though, it is within her beloved family of origin that Jeanene’s deep love for the Lord would take root.

Jeanene graduated from Harlingen High School in 1963, going on to earn a degree in elementary education from North Texas State University in 1966. But the course of her future would be set in 1965, when Jeanene met the love of her life, Randy Harrell, a young veterinary student at Texas A&M University. Randy and Jeanene married on August 13, 1966, and moved to Dallas in 1969, eventually settling into a brand-new Tudor-style house in Lake Highlands.

For the next 44 years that house on Blackwood Drive would be Jeanene’s homebase, filled with love, laughter and the bustling activity of a growing family. Jeanene loved decorating her home and had a talent for creating beautiful and warmly welcoming environments where friends and various neighborhood clubs would gather throughout the years. But her greatest joy was her family, and Jeanene devoted herself wholeheartedly to the loving care of Randy and their five children. Even after the kids were grown and had families of their own, not a single Christmas Day would pass that the entire Harrell family did not gather at Blackwood Drive—eventually bursting at the seams with 26 kids and grandkids.

As devoted as Jeanene was to her role of “Mom,” she poured just as much energy into the role of “Nana,” volunteering to provide childcare for many of her grandbabies on weekdays while their young parents worked. Nana always had the best lap for snuggling and stories, and an overflowing toybox waiting for her grandkids to come and visit.

In addition to family, the other constant in Jeanene’s life was faith. A member of Hopewell Primitive Baptist Church in Winnsboro, Texas since 1978, and a member of Believer’s Chapel in Dallas since 1983, Jeanene lived a life characterized by the love and grace of her Savior.

Jeanene is survived by her loving husband, Dr. Gary Randall “Randy” Harrell of McKinney, and their five children: Jeff (Allison) of McKinney, Jennifer (Shane) Moore of Leesburg, Jill (the late Jeff) Lee of McKinney, Jared (Lindsay) of Lucas, and James (Audrey) of Lucas, as well as grandchildren Hannah (Evan) Cohen, Hayden (Donna) Harrell, Ava (Ryan) Brown, Landon Harrell, Morgan (Nathan) Faselt, Brady (Hannah) Moore, Landry Moore, Griffin (Camryn) Lee, Carson Lee, Sawyer Harrell, Wynn Harrell, Boone Harrell, June Harrell, Henry Harrell, Sadie Harrell and Rose Harrell, and great-grandchildren Tatum Cohen, Logan Cohen, and Raleigh Faselt. She also leaves behind brothers Joseph L. (Karen) Hamrick, Jimmy (Trudy) Hamrick, John (Kim) Hamrick, and sister Judy (Gary) Williams.

A service to honor Jeanene’s life will be held at Beaty Funeral Home in Winnsboro, Texas on Sunday, December 15 at 2 p.m., with visitation to begin at 1 p.m.

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