Mike Harwell

MikeHarwell

Michael Wayne Harwell, 64, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

Graveside Service: 11AM Tuesday, December 29th at Riesel Cemetery. Visitation and viewing will be 30 minutes prior to the service.

Mike was born November 14, 1956, in Waco, to Johnny and Anita (Winkelmann) Harwell and raised in Elm Mott, Texas.  He was brought up from birth at Elm Mott Baptist Church.  As a young child, he was saved and baptized and has been a very long time member of Elm Mott First Baptist Church, where he was very involved.

Mike went to school at Connally ISD his whole life and graduated from Connally High School in 1974.

As a young child, he played baseball with many other Elm Mott boys for Elm Mott Little League where his dad coached for many years.

He loved fishing, hunting, camping at Lake Whitney with friends & family, water skinning, riding horses and riding bulls.

He had a passion for playing his guitar & singing with his older brother, John Earl & also singing at church.

In 1976, he had a terrible car accident and wasn’t expected to live, but with his determination and lots of prayers, he lived.  He had to go through years of speech and physical therapy to learn to walk and talk again.  He was very disabled and handicapped from 1976 through December 23rd when he died.

He never lost his faith & trust in God and he has been an inspiration to so many family & friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, John Earl Harwell.

Survivors include sister, Barbara Jean and husband, Jackie of Elm Mott; adopted sister, Allison Pool of Elm Mott; sister, Cathy Summers of Elm Mott; uncle, Homer Harwell of Bellmead; niece, Krystal Cehand and husband Cayle of Temple; nephews, Sean Prisco and wife Danielle of Hewitt, Chad Austin and wife Jessica of McGregor, Curtis Austin and wife Kristen of Robinson, Randall Harwell and wife Erica of Gatesville, and Bradley Harwell of Salado; several great nieces and nephews; and numerous other family and friends.

The family would like to acknowledge the staff of Providence Hospice for their excellent care and concern.

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Condolence Messages

  1. Richard & Sue Wilshire

    Sending our condolences to Mikes family and friends, he was a great friend for many years, he never failed to throw up his hand and wave when he saw while he was riding around Elm Mott on his scooter, may he rest in peace..

  2. Remember Mike and your whole family from Little League and First Baptist Church, so sorry for your loss.

  3. Billy and Tracie Holobaugh

    Sending our condolences to family and friends. Seems a lifetime ago that we were throwing the ball around in your backyard. Farewell old friend.

  4. My condolences to Cathy and entire Harwell family during the loss of your brother. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

  5. Sandra and Eddie Ray Scheler

    We are so sorry for your loss and our prayers are with everyone rest in peace Mike

  6. Barbara, Cathy & family. Our deepest condolences for your loss. We all love you all like family. Mike will always be in our hearts. I pray for peace & comfort for the days, months & years ahead.
    With Love Florence, Curtis & Cathy Bradburry

  7. So sorry I know this is a hard time. Sending love, comfort and prayers. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💚💚💚🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

    Mrs. J.E. Jean and Terry Jean

  8. Melva (Gehrels) Hawthorne

    I pray for God’s comfort for each family member. I remember the Harwell family well. Mrs. Winnie Harwell was my Junior Class Sunday School teacher in the old wooden church (First Baptist Elm Mott) before they tore it down for the new brick one. I remember all the kids, John Earl, Mike, Cathy, & Barbara but they probably don’t remember me since I was a few years older (I’m 71 now). I remember keeping Barbara in the nursery during vacation bible school. The Harwells lived on S. Charles and we lived on N. Charles.

    • Melva I do remember you! And of course your sweet mom. Thank you for the kind words.
      Cathy

    • Barbara Harwell Jean

      What great memories I have with your sweet Mom at Elm Mott First Baptist Church. It is so sweet of you to share your precious memories of our Harwell family.
      Me and my Husband now own and live in our childhood home on South Charles Street.

      Sending lots of hugs and love to you.

    • Barbara Harwell Jean

      What great memories we have with you at Elm Mott First Baptist Church. It is so sweet of you to share your precious memories of our Harwell family.
      Me and my Husband now own and live in our childhood home on South Charles Street.

      Thank you for sharing your sweet memories iof our Harwell Family.

      Sending lots of hugs and love to you.

      Barbara

  9. Jam Mauk Attaway

    I am so sorry for your loss! I went all through school with Mike and worked my first job out of high school with him at what was then known as the Elm Mott Thriftee grocery store. Sending prayers of comfort and peace.

    Love,
    Jan

  10. So sorry for yalls loss! Our prayers are with y’all!
    Johnny Ferrill
    Cassidy (Ferrill), Robby, and Tylor Bruce

  11. Kenneth, Bernice and family

    Very sorry for your loss. Our prayers and condolences are with you at this time.

  12. My heart is broken. He was such a good person. My heart and prayers go out to all of you!!

  13. Wishing you peace at the loss of Mike. Prayers for you and your family.

  14. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. I played ball with Michael Wayne while in Elm Mott and he was a true competitor, throwing a wicked curve ball years before he probably should have. We played organized ball but played many more ballgames out in various empty lots where we could set up bases. He was a constant part of my growing up in Elm Mott as the Harwell’s and Hardwick’s were always involved in some kind of local sports. His dad Johnny taught me sportsmanship and the fundamentals of baseball. The world has lost a good man, and it’s heaven’s gain. God’s speed Mike.

    • Barbara Harwell Jean

      Jeff,
      I remember growing up as a child with you and Mike and many other Elm Mott boys playing baseball wherever yall could find a place to play.😊
      I also remember the many years of Daddy coaching all of you.
      The day that Mama was coming home from the
      hospital with me after I was born, Daddy was coaching a baseball game. Laureen Greener picked Mama and me up from the hospital and took us to the baseball field so Daddy could see me. I remember Mama telling me that story, so the first place I went after being born and out of the hospital ways to be baseball field. Maybe that’s why baseball is my favorite sport. 🤗

      Our families were definitely involved together at sports events and many other things as well.

      I have lots of childhood memories of you, your family, Mike and all of the Elm Mott boys that Daddy coached in baseball. Those were fun days for me growing up as a child.

      Thank you for sharing your memories.♥️

      Barbara

  15. My thoughts and prayers are with the Harwell family . Mike was a dear friend. Many fond memories at church and school. He truly fought the good fight.

  16. Ronnie & Brenda Price

    It’s so hard to lose such a great friend. Mike and I were best friends and classmates for a long time and even worked together at the old Elm Mott Thrifty grocery store . Mike was always willing to stop and visit. We always called each other on our birthday to wish each other Happy Birthday, which always turned into the conversation of which one of us was older. Mike, we enjoyed our great times and I’ll always remember them. You fought hard my friend, now rest easy and you will always be remembered. Our thoughts are with you and your family.

    Ronnie & Brenda Price

  17. Richard Keith h e y l i n LOL you're not right

    Barbara Jean and Kathy I wish you all the best in life God bless Mike take care of him he’s now on his hands let him rest in peace I love you all I hope I can make it to the funeral but if I can’t please don’t think bad of me I wish I could be there me I he is in my heart all the

  18. Deepest sympathies to the Harwell family. Many fond memories of childhood days… especially playing baseball in the empty lot near the Harwell home. Mike had the best curveball in LL in those days. Also remember Mike’s singing voice. He led the class Christmas pageant in 5th grade, [Mrs. McClellan’s ] singing “The First Noel”. So many memories also at Elm Mott Baptist Church. Rest in peace friend.

  19. Thank you for the opportunity to care for Michael Harwell.
    May warm memories sustain you.
    Peace be with you,

    Audie Williams
    Community Healthcare of TX

  20. Cathy and Barbara…. my heart is with you at this time. I will miss seeing Mike scoot around Elm Mott! May God be with you both and your families during these difficult days.

  21. My sympathies and prayers to Mike’s friends and family. When you saw him in church, you knew you were going to get a big smile and a hug. Rest in peace, Mike.

  22. Barbara Harwell Jean

    I remember you too. What great memories we have with you at Elm Mott First Baptist Church. It is so sweet of you to share your precious memories of our Harwell family.
    Me and my Husband now own and live in our childhood home on South Charles Street.

    You are very special and I will always have you and our sweet memories in my heart.
    Sending lots of hugs and love to you.

  23. Our hearts and prayers are with you. Thank you for allowing us to help care for him.
    Merry Wilburn, Spiritual Care Coordinator
    Community Health Care of Texas/Providence Hospice

  24. Dear Cathy, Barbara Lynn, & family,
    I’m so sorry to hear the news of Mike’s passing. I have many great memories of Mike in the summertime riding bikes down to the creek. I usually got in trouble, but we kept riding as far as we could anyway. We were so brave! I remember your entire sweet family and church in ElmMott. It has been a very long time and you may not remember me, but I never forgot those precious memories. I pray for continuing strength and comfort for your family.
    With fond memories and love,
    Jan Bates Gonzalez

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