J. "Ben" HARRILL

HARRILL, J. "Ben,"

56, of Holiday, Fla., died March 16, 2010. Ben was

born July 2, 1953, in Kings Mountain, N.C., but was a lifelong resident of the west central Florida area. In 1971, he graduated from Clearwater High School, where he met his wife, JoEllen. Ben then went on to become a Florida Gator, receiving both his Bachelor of Arts and law degrees from the University of Florida. From 1979 through 1984, Ben served as assistant county attorney for Pasco County. Thereafter, he served as Pasco County Attorney from 1984 through 1991. Serving as county attorney, Ben supervised development of the county' s initial comprehensive plan and land development regulations. In 1991, Ben joined the firm of Martin, Figurski & Harrill as partner, practicing primarily in the area of land development regulation and eminent domain. Ben served in the past as general counsel to the Pasco County Housing Authority, the Pasco County Property Appraiser, and the Pasco County Parks and Recreation Board, and was a member of the Pasco County Environmental Lands Acquisition task force. He was an active member and volunteer in local youth sports, community charitable organizations and the Community Foundation. For the past several years, he has given anonymously to the less fortunate and needy families at Christmas time. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations be made to either Gulf Middle School ABC Account, to provide for Christmas gifts for middle school children, or to a newly created fund named in Ben' s honor, the Pasco County BOCC, Ben Harrill Holiday Fund. Checks can be mailed to Community Services Director, Pasco County Community Services Building, 8620 Galen Blvd., Port Richey, FL 34668, to provide for families during the holiday season. Ben leaves behind his wife of 35 years, JoEllen Harrill; son, Joseph Harrill and his wife, Jennifer, of Orlando, Fla.; son, James Harrill of Orlando; mother, Dorothy Harrill of Dunedin, Fla.; mother and father-in-law, Ann and Richard McMurry of Dunedin; siblings, Charlotte Douglas and her husband, Bill, of Dunedin, Bill Harrill and his wife, Lynn, of Inverness, Fla., Don Harrill and his wife, MaryAnn, of Windermere, Fla., Liz Harrill of Dunedin, and Sarah Harrill of Dunedin; sister-in-law, Amy Lunder and her husband, Chris; nieces and nephews, Dawn Hudson and her husband, Mike, William Harrill and his wife, Valerie, Joseph Lunder, Chris Lunder, Meredith Harrill, Anna Lunder and Andrew Lunder; aunt, Demaris Sanders; and aunt and uncle, MaryAnn and Palmer Huffstetler. The family will host an open reception in celebration of Ben' s life

3-6 p.m. Sunday, March 21, 2010, at his law office, located at The Oaks at Perrine Ranch, 2550 Permit Place, New Port Richey, Fla. Dobies Funeral Home Holiday dobiesfuneralhome.com