Neta Jo (Moore) Harrell

After a week of visiting with family, Neta Jo (Moore) Harrell passed quickly/peacefully in Amarillo, TX. She went home to be with her LORD, whom she had faithfully served throughout her life. God’s timing is perfect, so her family takes comfort in knowing she was ready to be with Davis, her beloved husband of 68 years, and that they are together again in Heaven.

Neta Jo was born on the family farm in Deaf Smith County, TX (near Dawn) to Era Vinita and Joe Sephus Moore. She and her 6 younger siblings helped on the farm starting in the Depression, which was a formative event in her life. Neta became adept at cooking for hungry farmhands, and she found a passion for serving others in the kitchen. Throughout her life, Neta enjoyed entertaining large groups of family/friends and frequently said that she had cooked enough for “planned overs”.

Neta earned her teaching degree at Wayland Baptist College in Plainview, TX, where she met and married Davis Harrell, who was studying for the ministry there. Davis and Neta were called to serve God together, and Neta became a perfect example of a pastor’s wife, including worshiping through music with her piano/organ playing. Her most cherished role was raising a family with two sons, Steven Vaughn and Troy Davis, and two daughters, Vinita Mae, and Anna Beth. Neta was a loving mother who taught her children many valuable life lessons. She also enjoyed teaching other children and used her college education for many years with classes of K and 1st grades.

Neta Jo had a heart for people and was well-known for her dedication to remembering people’s names, even those she hadn’t seen for decades! During family get-togethers, Mother would often do a “roll call” of everyone there and others she wanted us to keep in our prayers. Neta wasn’t a big fan of technology but learned email in her 60’s and text/video chat in her 90’s just to stay in touch with the many people she loved.

The Harrell ministry led their family to churches in Granite, OK, Canyon, Baird, and Amarillo, TX, and then to California in Norwalk, Baldwin Park, Mission Viejo, Santa Fe Springs, and Pomona. It seemed fitting that Davis and Neta chose to return to Amarillo, TX, for their final years and are both buried at the Palo Duro Cemetery across the road from the Palo Duro Baptist Church, where they began their long and well-lived lives as husband and wife.

Neta is survived by her children: Steve (JoAnne) Harrell, Troy (Cyndi) Harrell, and Vinita (Ted) Meyers; grandchildren Matthew (Becky) Meyers, Jonathan Harrell, Chelsea Blackstock, Kayla Meyers, and Ansley (Matthew) Parris; siblings Joyce (Pat) Lewellyn, Darleen Truman, and Donald Troy Moore; one great-granddaughter, many nieces, nephews and dear friends. Neta is predeceased by her husband, Davis Harrell, daughter Anna Blackstock, and siblings Harold Dean Moore, Kathryn Montgomery, and Alyce Dawson.

The family asks that donations in Neta Jo’s memory be made to your local church or missions group.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia from 12:00 PM until 5:00 PM. The family will receive guests from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM. Graveside services will be held on Monday, June 5, 2023, at 9:00 AM at the Palo Duro Cemetery in Wildorado, Texas. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM in the Schooler Funeral Home Brentwood Chapel.