Nancy Nell Harris Harwell, 93, died peacefully at St. Luke’s Care Center in Carthage, Missouri on September 25, 2018. Nancy had been living at St. Luke’s Assisted Living for a year and a half be-fore she became ill. She was the wife of Robert E. Harwell, who died in 2014. They were married for 67 years.
Nancy taught elementary school in Abilene, Texas and then in Jasper, Missouri for over 30 years. Nancy also contributed her beautiful alto voice to the choir at both Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal Church, in Abilene and Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri. She and Robert were regular volunteers at the Nearly New Consignment Shop in Carthage and for four years were volunteers at the George Washington Carver Memorial in Diamond. They were members of the Newtonia Battlefield Protection Association. After Robert was diagnosed with macular degenera-tion, they became active members of the Joplin Service Club for the Blind. Nancy was Robert’s “sighted guide” through their many years of service and fellowship there.
Nancy was born July 20, 1925 in Newtonia, Missouri to Mary Helen Chapman Harris and Howard Bentley Harris. She graduated from Garber High School in Garber, Oklahoma in 1943. She gradu-ated from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas in 1947. She went back to school in her 30’s and got her teaching certificate and began teaching in Abilene. After the family moved to Missouri, she taught in Jasper until her retirement in 1997. She was a member of NEA and MSTA.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Harwell and husband, Gary Moeller of Frederick, Maryland; her son, Bruce and wife, Angie Harwell of Carthage, Missouri and her son, Bob and wife, Deb Harwell of Blue Springs, Missouri. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Ivy and husband, LTC Joe LaTendresse of Leavenworth, Kansas; her grandson, Tyler and wife, Meggan Harwell of Carthage, Missouri; her grandson, Grant Harwell and fiancé, Lenisha Williams of Atlanta, Georgia; her grandson, Mason Harwell of Blue Springs, Missouri; her granddaughter, Susan and husband, Robert Koritz of Chesterfield, Missouri. She is also survived by four beautiful great grandchildren, Charlotte Ann and Cole Alexander LaTendresse of Leavenworth, Kansas and Levi Scott and Noah Lennon Koritz of Chesterfield, Missouri. She is also survived by her special young friend, Sophie Merrill.
Honorary pallbearers are Tom and Gail Higdon, Heidi Todd, Barbara Mountjoy, Jerry and Doris Sample, Keith Garber, Frank and Donna Lane, Dale and Ginny Hopp, Bud and Sherian Rogers, Do-ris Everett, Roberta Probert, Ann Ulmer, Donnie Mitchell, Darrell
Waggoner and David Weems.
Nancy’s family would like to thank Sherry Poff, Heidi Todd, Misty Newby, Emily Brackeen-Carnes, Barb Stewart and Rick Warden of Visiting Angels for their many hours giving loving, com-passionate, attentive care to both Nancy and Robert. Nancy’s family would also like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Luke’s Arbors Assisted Living wing for the personal and loving care given to her during her stay there.
A funeral service including Holy Communion will be held 10 am, Saturday, September 29, 2018 at Grace Episcopal Church, 820 Howard Street, Carthage, MO, 64836. The Very Reverend Steven Wilson and the Reverend Ted Estes will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Grace Episcopal Church Columbarium next to the church. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Joplin Service Club of the Blind, 311 S. Shifferdecker, Joplin, MO 64801 or to Grace Episcopal Church, 820 Howard St. P.O. Box 596, Carthage, MO, 64836. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary, Carthage, MO.
