TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY HARRELL PRICE

Harrell Price was the Price Family Honorary “Chairman of the Board” for his wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the family, which consist of six boys and one girl (youngest), sisters-in-laws, brothers-in-laws, plus children and children that adopted our family.

The family was divided by older children for farm work and younger children for house and garden work. Harrell had the responsibility of the older children to help Daddy get the farm work done in a timely manner at a very early age. He never complained or fussed about his need to help Daddy or Mother.

Harrell would not pass a stray or injured dog on the side of the road driving to and from work or Holdenville. He would bring the dog home to feed, provide care and give them a unique name and they became part of the family of dogs, cats, goats, squirrels and one pet crow that would steal any shiny bolt or wrench to hid.

Harrell was drafted into the army and was stationed in Kansas. On several occasions, Melbalene would ask me to ride with her to the army base to visit Harrell for the weekend. I was very happy to ride along and get fed hamburgers and milk shakes on the trip and I got to see lots of movies during the days and nights we were there visiting Harrell.

Melbalene worked at the Queen Bee as a waitress and we would wait for closing and take Melbalene home. I would get in the back seat and sleep until we got home between 1:00pm and 2:00pm on Saturday night depending on how long it took them to say goodnight.

Harrell and Melbalene’s home in Holdenville was the meeting place for the family reunions and gathering with the families from across the United States, including Texas, Mississippi, Wyoming and California, coming to visit and enjoy the fellowship with other family members and friends enjoying stories about the oil field, farming and growing up in a big family.

There was always a large pot of beans, cornbread and Chocolate Cake on the stove or counter with the coffee pot almost empty, but with coffee, filter and water ready for a fresh pot.

On our family trips to Wyoming and Kenny Price’s fishing tournaments, the men would always check and report their fuel mileage and Harrell’s Chevrolet truck would always come in last. Harrell had enough of the bragging and he got up early one morning and proceeded to put just enough gas in his truck to beat all of the fuel mileage the next fuel stop. The next morning we stopped to fill the tanks and Harrell made sure he got next to Jack Sawyer and made a big deal of beating him on fuel mileage.

Harrell gave nicknames to the younger children and two of our grandchildren was at Harrell’s home for a gathering and he called our grandson with the middle name Lincoln “Abe” and our granddaughter “Tadpole”. The grandson was ok with his nickname, but our granddaughter stated that was a mean nickname and she wanted to be called Princess or Angel. Days later she needed a password and she asked her Mom how to spell “Tadpole”. Harrell never changed her nickname.

Harrell Price was a brother by blood but most important a Brother-in-Christ.

Garland Price

July 10, 2022