Individual Details

Death

Joan Harrell, so beloved, ascended to Heaven on June 14, 2017 following complications from surgery. She is deeply mourned. The world became a more beautiful place when Joan was born on May 29, 1942 in Washington, D.C. to Warwick Rex Furr and Shirley Page Furr, neé Shepherd. Joan had a happy childhood filled with adventure, and her love of adventure continued throughout her life. Joan married her husband, James "Jim" Albert Harrell, on December 28, 1962 in Arlington, Virginia, after which they moved to Florida where they lived out their lives with their three children, Sharon, Sheila, and Scott, and eventually, grandson Ian, who was the light of Joan's life. Joan received her bachelor's degree in education from Florida Technical University, now the University of Central Florida, and enjoyed a 40+ year career as an elementary school teacher. Joan was honored as Teacher of the Year of Red Bug Elementary School in Casselberry, Florida and, ever striving for excellence, she later became National Board Certified. Joan touched the lives of countless children, and she was often invited to high school and college graduations of children she had taught in kindergarten. Joan was a world traveler, a music maker and dreamer of dreams, a prissy princess who was always beautifully turned out, and she had great legs to the end. Joan was preceded in death by her husband Jim and her oldest brother Chuck, and is survived by her three grieving children, grandson Ian, two sons-in-law (Thomas and Bobby) whom she dearly loved, her sister Pat, brothers Bud and Mike, and countless true friends. The angels are so lucky to have her. In lieu of flowers, the family would wish for donations to Halifax Hospice Care Center of Edgewater, Florida, 4140 South Ridgewood Avenue, Edgewater, Florida 32141.
Published in Daytona Beach News-Journal on June 18, 2017