"Stormy" James Harvell

James Henry “Stormy” Harvell, Sr. (1947-2020) Stormy left us January 23, 2020, at 7:50 p.m., to go home to be with our Lord, his savior. He had been sick and battled to stay with us since 2007 when he lost his sternum. In the past few years, he was diagnosed with liver cancer, had both carotid arteries cleaned out, and this past May, he lost his leg. Some wonder why that is even important, but most don’t realize he sacrificed his leg to be here for his great-grandson, Graydon. To him, it was about sacrifice for his family and even at the end, he still wanted to fight even though the doctors only gave him a week. He wanted to go home. He was tired. And he did fight, he fought to get home. He was home two hours when he left us with his puppies Bella and Bo beside him. He was there to hear Graydon run through the house in his walker and to know we were all here surrounding him. He had us all home and together like he kept saying he wanted the past few days. Stormy was born and raised in Holley, Florida. He grew up with a love of hunting, raising quail, fishing, shrimping, and anything dealing with water. Stormy graduated from Milton High School in 1965 and was in the Navy Reserves as a fireman aboard the USS Lexington, when he accidentally discharged an unloaded shotgun through the palm of his right hand. He was honorably discharged from the military. Through the years, he worked many jobs from paving, grading, concrete truck driver, and he finally created his own company to which he ran for almost 20 years until we had to close it because of the loss of his sternum. He was famous for what the contractors called “a Stormy pad” which he had the ability to do with the feel of his butt on his John Deere dozier seat. Daddy was an expert in construction and sought out by many people to take care of their land clearing needs. He is preceded in death by his parents, Duncan Hillery Harvell and Gracie Eldease Broxson. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Judeth “Judy” Elaine Harvell; two children, James Henry “Buddy” Harvell, Jr. (Pearl) and Wendy Kay Harvell Lincoln (Edmond); two granddaughters, Harley Anne Harvell (Cameron) and Hillery Harvell; and great grandson Graydon Howard. Services for Stormy will be held Monday, January 27, 2020, at Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel. Visitation for family will be from 11:00 to 12:00 and for friends from 12:00 to 2:00. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., immediately following visitation, with Rev Doug Barber officiating. Burial will follow at Harper Cemetery. Celebration of Life Reception will follow all services at the Holley Dome on Hwy 87. Active Pallbearers are: Dillon Manning, Tyler Manning, Pete Ratliff, Clayton Wells, Christopher Wells and Wesley Wells. Honorary pallbearers are Johnnie Clopton, Phil Rollo, Phillip Barnard, Gerard Brown, and Melvin Pearson. Special thanks to Fort Walton Beach staff who helped give him and his family time together in his final days. You all went above and beyond your jobs to make our final time together the best that it could be under the circumstances. We would also like to thank all of the doctors and staff that helped him fight his fight. We can never thank the first responders enough for your help in giving us an additional week with him and also getting him home for his final hours.