Obituaries

Services for Melvin Hugh Harlan will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, October 11th at Dannel Funeral Home in Sherman with Pastor Kevin George officiating. Interment will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Mr. Harlan, 76, died Saturday, October 7, 2017 at Texoma Medical Center of Denison. Visitation will be held at Dannel Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 10th from 6 to 8 p.m. Melvin Hugh Harlan was born September 25, 1941 in Goree, Texas to Eleazer Vernon Harlan, Jr. and Lily Faye Culwell Harlan. The family moved to Southmayd, Texas in 1947. Melvin attended Southmayd Schools and graduated in 1960. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from 1960 until 1964 during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Fort Hood in the 2D Armored Division also known as Hell on Wheels. During his enlistment when not at Fort Hood, he traveled overseas to various countries. While in the army he achieved the rank of Sargent, an accomplishment that he was very proud of. He was honored to have served his country and took great pride in being a Veteran. In 1976, he graduated from Richland College with an Associates Degree in Applied Arts and Sciences. Melvin began building his work resume early in life. As a boy he worked for Mr. Fallon on his farm working cattle. Often beginning his day at 4 a.m. before school and then going back after school to do his evening chores. While in high school during his junior and senior years, Melvin was a bus driver for the Southmayd schools. He often reminisced about the memories he made as a bus driver and they were some of his favorite stories to tell. After his discharge from the army he returned to Sherman and began working at Hardwick Etter. Over the years he was employed by Collins Radio, Crookham & Vessels, and All States Railroad. In 1991 Melvin began MH Railroad Construction. He loved building and repairing railroads and made many lifetime friends through his business. It was at Hardwick Etter where he reconnected with Sandra Rogers. On July 5, 1968 they were married in Durant, Okla. They had two children, E.V. and Scott. Melvin loved his family and was very proud of his grandchildren Kylie and Jackson. He loved watching them work with their show cows at the family barn. Melvin was known for his love of people and animals. He seldom met a stranger and always loved the time he spent with his friends. He especially loved his goats. Over the years he and his longtime girlfriend Kaye expanded his herd down at her ranch in Junction, Texas. He loved the time he spent with Kaye and was so thankful for her love and support during their time together. Melvin was a member of Friendship United Methodist Church and a lifetime member of the VFW and the Elks Lodge. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, E.V. Harlan, Jr. and Lily Faye Culwell Harlan, wife Sandra Rogers Harlan, brother Jerry Harlan, and nephew Michael Harlan. He is survived by his sons, E.V. Harlan, III and wife Kerry Harlan, grandchildren Kylie and Jackson Harlan; Scott Harlan and girlfriend Carin Purdom, children Devin Jackson and Addisin Purdom all of Sherman; girlfriend Kaye Black of Junction, brother Vernon Harlan and wife Peggy, niece Mary Martha Russell and husband Paul, nephews Don Harlan and wife Lee; and Matt Harlan and wife Ryan; and numerous great nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Texas Diabled Veterans Association (TDVA), P.O. Box 4023, Bergheim, Texas 78004, or American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852 in Melvin Hugh Harlan’s memory. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Dr. David Reynolds, the nurses at Sherman DaVita Dialysis Center, and the nurses on the 4th floor at TMC for the care they extended to Melvin during the last few years. Pallbearers will be Henry Salisbury, Mike Chouteau, Rocky Trankle, Edgar Serrano, Johnny Lee Godsey, and Kenny Henry.