Marshall Allen Harrell II was born on October 22, 1934, in Washington D.C.
He passed away peacefully on July 31, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Marshall grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and attended Alamo Heights schools. He was proud to be a member of the 1951 State runner-up then the 1952StatechampionAlamo Heights Mules basketball team. Two years later, his brother Donald also won a basketball state championship.
Marshall attended the University of Texas where he earned degrees in both business and law. He took his first year of law school while completing his fourth year of his undergraduate degree so that he could save money.
While at UT he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and a service organization known as the Texas Cowboys.
During his college years, he had dated his future wife, Shelly Smith, although their lives went on divergent paths for a good while.
After college, he joined the U.S.Air Force Reserves where he served for six years (’58-‘64).
His first job was at Humble Oil & Refinery Company (now Exxon) in New Orleans followed by a few years as an independent landman. He leased land for oil and gas from “Louisiana to Montana and all points in between.”
and daughter Brittany Foerster. Also, their son, Marshall (Leslie) Harrell III of Austin, Texas, and their children, Virginia and Marshall Harrell IV. Marshall and Shelly had 15 great-grandchildren. He is survived by numerous nephews and nieces and their spouses and children whom he loved.
He was preceded by his wife, Betty Shelton (Shelly) Harrell onAugust 28, 2022. Also, his parents, Marshall and Mary Lee Harrell; and his in-laws, Tillman and Virginia Smith. He was also preceded by his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Eugenia Harrell; and his brother-in-law, Boyd Henderson.
Marshall grew up a Methodist but became a Presbyterian after marrying Shelly. They were members of the Brenham Presbyterian Church the First Presbyterian Church, San Antonio.
While Marshall never lived in Burleson County, Texas, he loved it there. He enjoyed his clients, loved his work, admired the work ethic of the people and appreciated the relationships he had there. It is for this reason he requested that anyone wishing to offer a memorial in his honor to do so to one of the three school districts in the county. Caldwell I.S.D. Education Foundation, 203 N. Gray St. Caldwell, Texas 77836; Somerville I.S.D. Education Foundation, P.O. Box 997, Somerville, Texas 77879; Snook I.S.D. ATTN: Business office, P.O. Box 87, Snook, Texas 77878.
Marshall will be buried at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Texas, at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, followed by a Celebration and meal at the Brenham Country Club beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Time for Tribute at 5:30 p.m. All are welcome to attend both occasions.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Brookdale Northwest Hills in Austin for caring for Shelly and Marshall during their final few years.
“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a Heaven for?”
The landman work introduced him to the owner of the title company in Burleson County where Marshall became a part owner and eventually the full owner and ran the title company and practiced law for the next 45 years. He was driven to succeed.
He did not care for working at a large corporate office and for others. He wanted to rely on himself. Recalling his mother telling him that “you can always do better,” and “don’t settle with what others are doing,” he did indeed become a successful businessman.
He was a single man in his 30s and working as a landman in northeast Texas when his sister-in-law, Eugenia, who lived in Dallas, called to tell him that “Shelly Smith is back on the market.” Naturally, he called Shelly and they went on a date in Dallas and fell back in love. He would fondly recall Shelly telling him, in 1968 “Thanks for coming back into my life. I hope you never leave it.”
They married on June 17, 1969, at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas. Marshall now had a wife and her three children, Shawn, Helen and Shelton, ages 9, 7 and nearly 4 at the time. They welcomed another son, Marshall, in 1971.
With Marshall’s widowed mother living in Brenham and the title company opportunity in Burleson County presenting itself, the family moved to Brenham in 1973 and lived there for 10 years before Marshall, Shelly and Marshall III moved to San Antonio where they stayed until Marshall and Shelly moved into a care facility in Austin in January of 2020.
He is survived by his sister, Elaine Mitchell of Amarillo, Texas; his sister-in-law, Jody Henderson of Houston, Texas. Also, daughter, Shawn Fisher and her husband, James, of Fulshear, Texas, and their children, Rachel (Dan) Czar and Rebekah (Andrew) Maes.Also, daughter, Helen Proctor and her husband, Dale, of Arlington, Texas, and their children, Bryan (Jessica) Proctor, Christopher (Sara) Proctor and Emily (Collin) Praught; son, Shelton (Kristi) Foerster of Kerrville, Texas; and son, Hofmann (Sarah) Foerster; --Robert Browning