Harmon Darnell

Harmon Calhoun Darnell, age 86, of Fayette died August 19, 2016 at his residence. Services will be at 3:00 pm on August 22nd at Fayette First United Methodist Church with Dr. Steve Strange officiating. Burial will follow at Fayette Memorial Gardens with Norwood-Wyatt Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 3:00 prior to the services at the church. Harmon was preceded in death by his parents; W.C. Darnell, Susie Garrick Darnell Watkins and stepfather; A.R. Watkins. Survivors include his wife of fifty-nine years, Allene Monteith Darnell; daughter, Allene Darnell Crew of Winfield; son, Harmon C. (Cal) Darnell, Jr. and his partner, John Steven Thomas of Birmingham. He is also survived by grandsons Jesse Colin Crew of Anchorage, Alaska; Wesley Harmon Crew of Winfield and Kermit Todd Crew (Caroline) of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Other surviving family members include his sister, Mary Ellen Lanford; niece, Rebecca Lanford; and nephew, Lanny Lanford (Sylvie) all of Greenville, South Carolina. Mr. Darnell was born on February 22, 1930 in Denmark, South Carolina to the late Susie Garrick Watkins and W. C. Darnell. He later moved to New Orleans, where he graduated from Peters high school in 1947. While there, he played coronet in the band as well as football. After graduation, he served four years during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Navy as apprentice Seaman aboard submarines, including the USS Corporal. In 1951, he received an honorable discharge and entered Clemson University. There, he was captain of the swimteam and graduated in 1955 with a degree in Ceramic Engineering. He went to work for American Olean Tile Company in Cloverport, Kentucky. Over the following thirty-seven years, he worked in their plants in Cloverport and Lewisport before building and managing the plant in Fayette, Alabama in 1979. Upon retirement in 1992, he remained active as a consultant, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the ARC board, Exchange club, Subvets and the Train Depot Museum. As an active member of Fayette First United Methodist Church, he enjoyed serving as head usher, Methodist Men, Adult Friendship Sunday School class and various committees. Pallbearers will be Tyson Deloach, Dennis Garber, Doug Sanford, Joe Hocutt, Joe Frost, Bobby Crowell, Jerlon Fowler and Valerie Watts. Honorary pallbearers are the members of Methodist Men at Fayette First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Fayette Train Depot Museum at P.O. Box 309 Fayette, AL 35555.