David Vernon Harrell, 47, died suddenly in Portland, Ore., Thursday, June 19, 2003.

Mr. Harrell was born Nov. 30, 1955, in Douglas, Ga., to Vernon Harrell (of Coffee County, Ga.) and Dora Lee (Johnson) Harrell (of St. Paul, N.C.) David is survived by his wife Rebecca Harrell (born in Scharans, Switzerland) and son Dustin Harrell (born in Key West, Fla.), both of Oak Harbor; also, by his mother, Dora Lee Harrell of New Orleans; his brothers Jim and John Harrell and his sister Jill Corbitt, all of Georgia.

David and his family moved to Whidbey Island in 1984, where he retired from the US Navy in 1993. David made his first career change graduating from Western Washington University. He worked in the human services field as a drug and alcohol counselor, touching the lives of many youths and adults. Inspired by the Sept. 11 tragedy, David answered his call to serve and returned to sea with the Military Sealift Command. David died while serving as a chief radio electronics technician aboard the USS Rappahannock.

We are deeply grateful for the brief lifetime we were able to share with David.

A memorial service will be Saturday, June 28, at 12 p.m., at Rocky Point, with Cmdr. Michael Colson, CHC, USN, officiating and full military honors under the auspices of Whidbey Island Naval Air Station honor guard. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 4414 Woodland Park Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103. Arrangements and cremation by Burley Funeral Chapel.