Obituary of Robert Vernon Harrell

Robert “Bob” Vernon Harrell, 66 of West Jefferson NC, passed away on February 13, 2018 at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center after a brief illness. Born In Raleigh NC November 25th 1951 following in the footsteps of his grandfather, George Vernon “Happy” Harrell and his father, George Vernon Harrell, Jr., he became General Manager of Harrell Sign Company in Raleigh, after graduating from Millbrook High School and attending Elon University.  He operated the company for more   than 40 years and expanded its business to include customers throughout central and eastern North Carolina.

Bob was a lover of the outdoors, nature, camping and salt water fishing whenever he was near the ocean in North Carolina or on a vacation adventure in Mexico, Hawaii or Alaska.  He was an Eagle Scout, member of the Order of the Arrow and earned the coveted Boy Scout God and Country Award. Throughout his life he followed the creed of the Boy Scouts, to be “trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.” Bob’s lifelong friends recognized his unique blend of scouting values. Those values served him well, resulting in acts of kindness and dedication, such as helping to collect and deliver food for the needy, dropping everything to be by a friend’s side during difficult times, and serving as a volunteer fireman for many years, always striving to help others.

Bob had a special talent and love for working with his hands, building things and helping his family and friends with projects. He loved to see a project progress from the early planning stages to completion and took pride in his work, both in business and projects with friendsor around the house.  He occasionally joked that he was indeed “Bob The Builder,” but he was a builder in other ways as well, building loyal friendships and relationships wherever he went. 

One of those relationships was the most special, the one with his wife of more than twenty years, Gail Pollard Harrell. Bob proudly told his lifelong friends that when he met Gail, he realized he had met his best friend, and everyone could see that in the loving, caring and respectful way they treated each other.

In addition to his wife Gail, he is survived by his loving mother Louise Tignon Harrell ; one son Cody Sullivan; two Grandchildren Willow Sullivan and Nathan Collier all of West Jefferson NC, along with a small group of close, lifelong friends.  A celebration of Bob’s life will be held on March 3rd at 2:00 pm at Boone Family Funeral Home in West Jefferson, NC with Rev. Dave Adams officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 1-2pm at Boone Family Funeral Home.

Flowers Accepted Or Memorials May Be Made To Watauga Humane Society, PO Box 1835 Boone NC 28607.