Carolyn June Gunn Harrell

Carolyn June Gunn Harrell, 91, of Gonzales, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021 in Gonzales, Texas. Carolyn grew up in Thompsonville, Texas and went to school in Waelder where she met the love of her life, Maurice Harrell.

After high school, Carolyn attended the University of Texas in Austin where she received a BBA from the College of Business Administration and then went on to receive an MBA at the UT Graduate School of Business. She married Maurice on Aug. 26, 1950 and were married until his death in 2004.

She started her teaching career as a typing teacher in Fredericksburg, Texas and then moved to San Antonio and taught typing at Robert E. Lee High School. Carolyn and Maurice then moved to Gonzales, Texas where she was a typing/business education teacher and the Chairperson, Business Department at Gonzales High School until she retired.

She was a Charter Member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority, Iota Xi Chapter started in Gonzales in 1964. She was on numerous Chapter and State committees/offices. She received numerous honors including Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence for Personal Achievement, Tandy Technology Scholars Outstanding Teach Award, Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, President of the Texas State Teachers Association, Member of the National Education Association Board of Directors, Texas Business Education Teacher of the Year, District 13, State Textbook Committee, Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 11 passed by 65th Texas Legislature recognizing leadership in education, Teachers Professional Practices Commission (gubernatorial appointment) and the Legislative Commission on Public School Finance (gubernatorial appointment).

Carolyn was not only the first woman to chair the Texas State Teachers Association Legislative Committee, but she was also the first classroom teacher in that position.

Carolyn is survived by her nieces: Linda Kratz, Kimberly Perry, and Ronda Brandt; and her nephew: Randall Hull.

She is preceded by her parents: Ida Mae and Carroll Gunn; her sisters: Nelwyn Faulk and Dianne Williams; her brother: David Hilton Gunn, II; her nephews: Randy Harrell and Larry Faulk; and her beloved husband: Maurice Harrell.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales, Texas.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at Seydler-Hill Funeral Home with interment following in the Gonzales Odd Fellows Cemetery. A reception will follow at the First United Methodist Church in Gonzales.

Memorials may be made to the Gonzales First United Methodist Church. Friends may leave their condolences to the family by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

Due to the present uptick in reported COVID-19 illnesses, protective measures regarding social distancing, and use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, funeral service, and graveside burial rite. Those remotely symptomatic of COVID-19 are politely asked not to attend. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.