Dell Harper Sr.

Dell Harper Sr., 81, of Gonzales, Texas passed away Friday, February 28, 2025. He was born July 8, 1943, to Jural and Olivia Harper. He attended school in Gonzales, Texas.

After losing his parents at the early age of 13, Dell left home to live on his own and found work in the poultry and cattle industry. Dell was later offered a job as a cook at a cafe in a local hotel. It was there that he drove himself to learn and to perform the many responsibilities entailed in running a busy kitchen. Later, he realized he was not advancing in life by working as a cook for someone else and decided to turn his shed into a small barbecue business.

As the business quickly grew, he knew he needed more space. That's when he purchased and moved a building from Nixon, Texas. The building was moved to Badger Street, which later was renamed Jesse Smith St. That location became to be the well-known Dell's Bar-B-Que for nearly 15 years. During those years there became the need to add an additional dining room because the business just continued to grow.

Although Dell became ill and retired in 1995, his love for cooking never went away. Any opportunity he had to cook or barbecue, he did. Anyone that knew Dell knew he loved to celebrate his birthday. He always told his family and friends how important it was to celebrate another year of life after all that he endured with his illness.

He is survived by his son Dell Jr. (Pamela), daughters Tameca Harper, Carima Harper, Carissa Harper Rogers (Jason) and Carina Harper (Michael Brown). Grandchildren DaLisha Harper, DaNisha Harper, Kirstin McKinney, Mikayla Harper, DeAndra Hastings, Darian Ross, Liam Rogers, and Laith Rogers. Also surviving are four great grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter Nicole Holmes, and siblings Willie Mae Hunt, Lucille Haywood, Rosemary Harper, Freddy Perryman, and Robert Prince. 

A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 11:00 am at Seydler Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales, Texas. 

Family and friends may leave their condolences online by visiting www.obannonfuneralhome.com and www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com

Services are under the care and direction of O’Bannon Funeral Home of Luling, Texas and Seydler – Hill Funeral Home of Gonzales, Texas.