Beverly Lindsay Tucker Harrell

1928 - 2015

Beverly Lindsay Tucker Harrell passed away Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015. Memorial service: 5 p.m. Monday at St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, 106 E. Crawford St., Palestine, Texas. Beverly Lindsay Tucker Harrell was born in Fort Worth, the only child of Bert Raab Tucker and Sadie Lindsay Tucker. Her father was an engineer with Union Carbide, and his work took the family to Niagara Falls, N.Y., Whiting, Ind., and finally to Texas City, where she attended high school. At age 4 Beverly fell in love with the violin, and she took her first lessons at that young age. By the time she was in junior high it was apparent that she was exceptionally talented, and she established herself as a fine musician playing both solo concerts and in her school orchestra. She attended Texas Woman's University in Denton, graduating in 1949. As a senior at TWU she received the Leman Award, which recognized the student who had made the most outstanding artistic achievement in the senior class. In 1949 she married Robert "Bob" D. Harrell, a World War II veteran and CPA who worked in Dallas. After their wedding in Texas City, they lived in Dallas for a few years where for a time Beverly taught second grade and also elementary school music. Their oldest child Bert was born in Dallas in 1952. In 1955 they moved to Palestine, Texas, where Bob developed his thriving CPA practice. In 1956 their daughter Meg was born, and in 1957 their son Charles was born. Beverly devoted her full attention to making a wholesome and loving household for her family. During the 1950s and '60s Beverly was instrumental in helping to form the Civic Music Association, which for many years brought top classical musicians to perform in Palestine. From time to time Beverly taught private violin lessons, and on various occasions she performed, sometimes solo and at other times accompanied by friends. She was a longtime member of St. Phillip's Episcopal Church, where for many years she sang in the choir and also arranged flowers for the altar. When St. Phillips commissioned the building of a new pipe organ, she was a key participant in the decision making process in that project. Throughout her 59 years in Palestine, Beverly was known for her gracious hospitality and energy in promoting cultural life. For many years she served on the Library Board with a particular interest in encouraging reading for young children. She was formerly president of the Harvey Woman's Club as well as a permanent board member. She was also one of the charter members of the Book Study Club. In 2004 she moved to Trinity Terrace in Fort Worth, where for several years she played her violin, often doing concerts with other residents who played the piano or other instruments, and on many occasions she played for the Vespers service on Sunday evenings. She was a subscriber to the Fort Worth Symphony and attended the full cycle of concerts for several years in addition to musical events at Texas Christian University. For Beverly music was the link between heaven and earth, and she was never more herself then when she was either playing or listening, especially when it was Bach. She was a marvelous woman, full of joy, always gracious in everything she touched. As her children and grandchildren, we have been deeply blessed by her love. We will miss her terribly. May she rest in peace, and may light perpetual shine upon her. Survivors: Beverly is survived by her three children, Robert "Bert" T. Harrell and his wife, Christina Cainas Harrell, of Jacksonville, Fla., Margaret Harrell Rubin and her husband, John Rubin, of Fort Worth, and Charles Richard Harrell of Dallas; and her five grandchildren, Melissa Page of Philadelphia, Pa., Robert Charles Harrell of Portland, Ore., Simon Page of Austin, Caroline Harrell of Fort Worth (TCU), and William Harrell of Austin (UT).