Elaine Harrelson Funeral. 9.26.25

Introduction

Good morning. My name is Juston Davidson, Elaine’s pastor, and on behalf of the family I want to thank you all for being here to celebrate the life of Elaine Harrelson, a wonderful mother, a fiercely loyal friend, a devoted wife, and a follower of Jesus Christ. As we begin this morning, would you join me in prayer.

Prayer

Father, we thank you this morning for the beauty of nature around us, skies, lakes, rivers, trees, and creatures all proclaiming your greatness and your glory. In a world where even the grasses of the field and the clouds in the air which are here for a moment and gone just as fast as they came, we are reminded of the blessings we recieve in our lives and also who quickly our time is finished. Yet, for the Christian, for the redeemed man or woman found in Christ, this truth is not a reality of fear but one of welcomed comfort. For those found in you death is not the end but a transfer of a life filled with physical struggle, pain, and weakness to one of beauty, glory, and redmeption. We praise you this morning because we know that hope has become reality for our dear sister Elaine, who even now sits in your presence, finding her faith being made sight.

Thank you Lord, In Jesus name we Pray, Amen

Obituary

Rose Elaine Harrelson, age 80, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, went into the arms of our Lord on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. She was born October 16, 1944, in Monett, Missouri, the daughter of Roy and Nell Rose (Harrow) Pearcey.

Elaine was a 1962 graduate of Parkview High School, in Springfield, Missouri and retired from the Missouri Rehabilitation Center in Mt. Vernon. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon.

On September 14, 1984, she married Jesse Lawrence Harrelson, in Stotts City, Missouri. He preceded her in death on July 5, 2011.

Elaine is survived by three daughters, Christal Brannon and her husband, Chris, of Greenfield, Missouri, Lynette Manzer and her husband, Tom, of Springfield, Missouri and Karen Reed and her husband, Clint, of Nixa, Missouri; son-in-law, Mike Miller, of Coweta, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Kay Pearcey, of Springfield, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Christopher Smothers, Madison (Tyler) Smothers, Dennis ( Marica) Dorrance, Darren Spurlock, Kayla Spurlock, Ashley(Collin) Conn and Marley (Sam) Bosancu; several great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Roy, and Nell Rose; her husband, Jesse; one daughter, Cheryl Miller; two sons, Frank Spurlock, Jr., and Dennis Spurlock; one grandson, Jeremiah Smothers; two brothers, Ron and Don Pearcey; one sister, Beverly Pearcey and one son-in-law, Ralph Dorrance.

Song- How Great Thou Art

Message

coming to Mt. Vernon in 2021, I got to know Ms. Elaine primarily in 4 places. The first was church where she was a faithful member and despite all the bad company she kept in service, she managed to stay away during my sermons most of the time, Which is more than I can always say about Tim.

Secondly was at Family Restaurant where she was always eating with her friends.

Third was in her Sunday school, where an entire group of young ladies felt it was their calling from God to help keep Tim Rice in line. I think they felt sorry for Jeanne and what must have started as a support group for her, eventually became a Sunday school of amazing women who all loved each other well, and stoked the fires of prayer for our church family.

And fourth, and probably most often, I found her at Ms. June’s house. When I’d come by to visit or trade pork for pies, I would find Ms. June’s ladies working puzzles together, playing cards, or just taking an afternoon nap after the avalanche of pies and cakes and cookies June would demand everyone ate.

Elaine was proof that some ladies don’t slow down when they retire, they find a second wind. And Elaine was determined to have the best time she could with her friends and her family.

We was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by those who had the pleasure of calling her friend.

Through the years the 23rdPsalm has been a welcomed refuge of comfort in chaotic lives. It speaks of a life founded on the great love of God that is filled with great care and love.

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The images David give us here point us to a God of care and comfort. Just as a Shepheard cares for the sheep of his flock, the Lord causes us to find rest. Not rest in deserts or barren landscapes but by lands of rich pastures and flowing waters. You can feel the coolness of the water and the gentle sound of streams portrayed here. Peace and content-ness wash over the sheep because the Shepheard is near. He not only provides choicest of lodging, but he also leads and protects us from those that mean for our harm. The sheep has no fear because the rod and staff guide and protect from any enemy. While the journey takes them through the valley of the shadow it ends with a buffet of God’s grace and riches. The enemies and struggles that used to come against us watch on as God sets the table right in front of their faces. And so, it will be for the sheep of the Shepheard as he makes their home with him forever.

Truly a beautiful story of hope and comfort but more than that a promise for you and I. Though we, like sheep often lose our way and forget the path our good Shepherd never lets us get out of sight.

Jesus speaks to this role in John 10:14-15

John 10:14–15 ESV

14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus, the good shepherd, knows us and we know him. Those that are in Christ are apart of his fold and he loves them. The bible teaches us the greatest story of all time, the gospel story. That Jesus loved his flock so much that he did lay down his life on a cruel cross to win them. That we, sinners, covered in our sin and shame were like sheep wondering towards the cliffs, unable to see the doom just before us. Yet by his sacrifice on the cross he once and for all broke the bonds that sin had on us. He called out to us by his blood on the cross and offered salvation. He still offers that hope to us today. That hope was the same hope that Elaine had. She placed her hope and life in sacrifice of Christ and was one of his children. No doubt, she would want me to tell you now, as we honor her life of service to Him, that you too can know him as your savior, just as she did. I we will but repent of our sin and claim the salvation Jesus paid for on the cross we too will be saved. You see, the truth brothers and sisters, is while you and are left here with our grief and memories of Elaine’s life, she has gone before us…

To far greener pastures with flowing sparkling waters. And beside that gentle brook, in the shade of path’s trees she hears her Shepheard’s comforting voice, the words we all work our lives to hear as she approaches him and he whispers to her, “well done my good and faithful servant, YOU ARE HOME.” Amen and Amen.

Song- When we all get to heaven

Prayer

Lord, we thank you and praise you for the good news that your son came to give us. That even though we have sinned against you and gone our own way, that because of the grace and mercy of Christ we can be made new in Him that gave His live so we could live. We praise you that Elaine’s eternity was secured by Christ and that today is not a “good bye” but simply a “see you in a little while”

Amen.

Dismissal

Graveside

And as we come to the graveside, we do the last thing we can for Elaine, remembering that while we bury her body, we are not burying her. She has ran her race well but for the follower of Christ, this is not good bye, only see you later. Paul sought to encourage the church in Thessalonica with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (ESV)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

We will remember, we will miss her, we will grieve her, but not without hope. You see, because of Jesus life, death, burial, and resurrection, we can have life that never ends. Elaine believed in Jesus and took Him up on his gift for her salvation. This same gift is held out for you as well and Elaine would want you to know that you can be saved as well. Put your full faith and trust in Jesus Christ and you can be saved. We will see Elaine again because of this promise.

Pray.