Harmon Ray Seawel

Pocahontas - Harmon Ray Seawel, 82, of Maynard, Arkansas, passed away Sunday November 30, at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro surrounded by his family. Born May 5, 1943, on the family farm at Brakebill, he was the son of Quimby Seawel and Vival Condict Seawel, whose deep love and character shaped his life from the beginning.

A lifelong member of the Church of Christ, Harmon served many years as a preacher with the congregations at Palestine, Dalton, and Maynard. He was Valedictorian of the first graduating class of Crowley’s Ridge College, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harding University, and earned a Master’s degree in History with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Mississippi.

Harmon married Susan Chester of the McIlroy community on the Eleven Point River in November 1973. Together they raised two sons, Chester and James. Harmon retired from Maynard Public Schools, an institution he loved and was loyal to. He also served three terms in the Arkansas House from 1998 - 2005 until he was term-limited, serving as House Majority Leader at a pivotal time for the state, and was instrumental in helping save rural schools such as Maynard. Harmon is preceded in death by his parents, Quimby and Vival Seawel, and many beloved aunts, uncles, and friends. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan, of the home; his children, Chester (Shelly) and James; his grandchildren Jayden, Morgan, and Mason Seawel; his sister Linda Davis; and a wide circle of family, friends, former students, colleagues, hunting and fishing buddies, and his storytelling buddies, “the coffee shop boys” AKA the Maynard Gang with whom he fellowshipped with most every morning since the late 1960s.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 pm Tuesday, December 2, 2025, in the McNabb Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10:00 am in the McNabb Funeral Home Chapel with Eddie Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Palestine Cemetery.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Mason Seawel, Dean Swick, Randall Swick, Will Swick, David Alphin, and William Dismang.

Honorary Pallbearers are: Ray Dust, Wesley Crouch, James Ray Chester, John Chester, Joe Chester, Jeff Davis, and The Maynard Gang (coffee shop buddies).