Johnnie Combs Harwell

Johnnie Combs Harwell, age 105, of Ballinger, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2013 at Ballinger Memorial Hospital after a short illness. To all her friends she was known as Johnnie and to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-great grandchildren she was known as Nonnie or Grandmother.

Johnnie was born on February 14, 1908, in Childress, Texas, to Bea and Dr. L.A. Combs. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Fannie and John Robert Dryer, originally from Mississippi. She spent a large part of her childhood moving from place to place, always in Texas. She lived in Haskell, Henrietta, and Vernon before she started school. By the time she finished high school, she had moved three more times, finishing high school in Vega, Texas near Amarillo.

At about eight years old, she discovered two lifelong passions, reading and sewing. She had plenty of time to do both and became quite an accomplished seamstress. She began sewing for her dolls and then began making all her own clothes as well.

Johnnie’s first marriage lasted close to 17 years and produced a son, Jack Smith, born in June 1929. Jack was the love of her life, and she took great pains to ensure he knew it. Jack went into the Army after high school and began driving trucks hauling about anything you can imagine until his death in 2000.

On June 28, 1946, Johnnie remarried to Fred Harwell Sr. from Olney, Texas. Fred had a son, Fred Harwell Jr., who lived with his mother in Olney. They began their life together in Winfield, Kansas where Fred Sr. was working for Shell Oil Co. She worked in an alterations shop, working miracles on the sewing machine. They began looking for ways to get back to Texas to be near Fred Jr. The opportunity presented itself when an acquaintance started an oil field equipment store in Ballinger, Texas in 1950.

They bought their home in 1951, and Johnnie lived there until her death. The house has been remodeled a few times and has produced a huge amount of memories over the 62 years she lived there.

Johnnie and Fred Sr. traveled extensively all over the United States and also to Hawaii, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The enjoyed seeing the sights, people, and landscape. Johnnie loved to “people watch”. They fascinated her, and she would always try to imagine where they were going and loved to comment on their particular clothing styles. Fred Sr. passed away in September 1997.

Johnnie was known for her quick wit, love of books, and generosity. Nonnie was known for the love she showed her grandchildren and their families and for always being available for a visit, a story, or a bit of advice from her vast life experience.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Harwell Sr., a brother, J.C., and a sister Francis.

Survivors include her son, Fred Harwell Jr. and his wife, Carolyn of Ballinger and daughter-in-law, Juanima Smith of Seattle, Washington; seven grandchildren, Bruce and Sole Harwell of McKinney, Texas, Traci and Lee Maldonado of Marble Fall, Texas, Stephen and Shari Smith of Balch Springs, Texas, Beth Smith Carpenter of Lawton, Oklahoma, Marc Smith of Medford, Oregon, Kirk and Julie Smith and Jeff (Rusty) Smith of Vancouver, Washington; twelve great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren and one great-great- great-grandchild. Also surviving is a brother-in-law, Alton Harwell of Wichita Falls, Texas.

Special thanks go out to Johnnie’s caregivers for the last two years, Shirley Esser, Sandy Fischer, Clara Dodd, Christina Martinez, Wanda Ray, and June Curbo. Also thanks to Dr. Brad Bundrant, and all the staff at Ballinger Memorial Hospital and Ballinger Hospice for the superior care they gave Johnnie.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Johnnie’s two favorite charities, Carnegie Library or Runnels County Senior Citizens. Also donations to your favorite charity would be greatly appreciated.

Visitation for family and friends will be on Saturday, April 27, from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Lange Funeral Home in Ballinger. Services will be held Sunday, April 28 at 2 pm at First Baptist Church in Ballinger. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.