Joel Randall Russell, 45, of Whitesboro, Texas was called home to his Lord and Savior on Monday, August 16, 2021, surrounded by his loving family.
Joel was born July 1, 1976 in Sherman, Texas to Joe and Donna (Jenkins) Russell. He graduated from Whitesboro High School and Austin College. On January 16, 1999 he married the love of his life, Kacy Womack. Joel was employed by FedEx for the last 27 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Whitesboro, where he served as a Deacon for the church and spent many years teaching Sunday School for the last 7 years. Joel has served on the Whitesboro School Board for the last 13 consecutive years and is the current president. He loved his community and was passionate about helping the youth in Whitesboro. Joel spent many years coaching little league football, baseball, softball, and soccer. An athlete himself, he loved the game of baseball and was voted all Conference Pitcher while attending Austin College. He loved nothing better than a church league baseball game. Joel also had a passion for agriculture, he was a big supporter of FFA in Whitesboro and spent many hours with the kids teaching them about showing animals, something he learned from his father. He just couldn’t say no to anyone, if they needed help, he was there. He believed in doing the right thing, no matter the consequences. Joel loved a good prank. As a matter of fact, he was so good at pranks, you could never tell if he was telling the truth or not. Joel was a wonderful friend to many people in this community and a loving husband, father, and son.
He is survived by his wife, Kacy Russell of Whitesboro; son, Reid Russell, daughter, Rylee Russell, son Ryder Russell; mother, Donna Russell, brother, Jory Russell and wife, Cris; sister, Jamie Molder, and husband, Nic, brother-in-law, Collin Pennell, brother-in-law, Kirk Womack and wife, Tara, mother-in-law, Karen Reed, mother and father-in-law, Eddie, and Linda Womack, as well as many nieces, nephews and other loving family and friends.
Joel is preceded in death by his, father, Joe Russell, grandparents, Raye, and Ollie Lue Jenkins, and A.F. and Mary Russell.
Pallbearers will be James Worley, Barry Beste, Ryan Harper, Billy Wolf, Jeff Thompson, Jory Russell, Collin Pennell, Nic Molder, and honorary pallbearer will by Kirk Womack.
Funeral services honoring Joel will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at First Baptist Church in Whitesboro, officiated by Rev. Mike Flanagan, Ryan Harper, and James Worley. A private family interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Whitesboro. A time of visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to service time.
We are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
So very sorry for your loss. Prayers for your entire family.
So sorry for your loss
Joel is a great man and will be missed greatly in our community.
Prayers
I’m so very sorry for your loss! You are all in my prayers.
Karen and Kacy and your whole family, may God grant you His peace that passes all understanding, today and always.
Best ever BOSSMAN. It was an honor to have had you as my boss. You walked with a purpose quickly and diligently conquering life tasks that were laid out before you. Always with a smile and your eyes so full of light. What a blessing you truly are. Your someone to not be forgotten. I wish love light and peace for all the lived ones whom all dearly miss you my friend.
Joel is my uncle and I love him so much he truly was a kind man and loved helping people but loved to prank us alot
Prayers and love to all the family.
So sorry to hear of your loss. Prayers of strength and comfort for all of the family.
I was shocked and saddened by the loss of Joel. He was always so kind to our family when I was a kid. I am praying for the Russell family.
Taken to soon. You will always be with us. You are amazing person, role model and giver. You will never be forgotten. Thank you Lord for sharing your special son with us. See you next round.
Kacy & family—I am so very sorry for your loss. I have been praying for Joel for the past few days & will continue to keep your family in my prayers. (I’m Lindsay Rand’s mom & she had kept me updated).
We are sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with Kacy and the kids. May God comfort and heal you all during this time.
So sorry for your family’s loss. May God give you all comfort and peace. You all are in my prayers.
Rest In Peace, old friend. So sorry to hear of your passing. God please hold Joel’s family tight and give them comfort during this time.
My sincere condolences to your family! May he Rest In Peace high up on that mountain.
Gene and I are so sorry for your loss. Praying for God’s blessings and His Hand to be upon this family and give all of you His peace.
Asking God to give you peace and strength these next days, as you and yours continue this hard journey. Joel was a good man, loved by all. With Heartfelt Sympathy, Janice Phelps
To Donna, Jory & Jaime and Joel’s family:. So grieved for you all by this sudden and unexpected loss. I’m sending the energy of grace ,love & peace to you all.
Deepest Love-_ Christy Fike
I am so very sorry for your family’s loss. My deepest sympathy for you all. Praying for God‘s comfort and peace.
Kacy, Reid, Rylee and Ryder..
May God bless and give you comfort during this difficult time.
Joel will be missed by so many.
Praying for your family..so sorry for yalls loss.
Our thought and prayers have been with all of you and that will continue in the days and weeks to come. We pray that you will experience that special peace that passes all understanding that God grants to His children during these days when your hearts are broken. We grieve with you, for we have loved Joel for many years. He will be sorely missed, and he will live on in the hearts of those who loved him so much.
So sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family. Joel would do anything for a friend.
Kacy im so sorry to hear bout Joel u and the family are in my prayers
Melissa payne
My thoughts and prayers for the family. I pray God wrap his love around Kacy and their children during this time.
Joel was so much to so many people. He loved God, Kacy, Reid, Rylee, and Ryder. He loved and served his church family, he served the school district and he served the community. Whitesboro has suffered a huge loss and our hearts are broken with you.
Much love and prayers to you all.
So sorry Kacy and kids for your loss. Have a lot of good memories of Joel growing up. Talked to Dad about him yesterday and he mentioned how he helped load stuff at a auction a while back and how much he appreciated that. The Whitesboro community will miss Joel. My prayers are with you.
Our thoughts and prayers to the family. Joel like his dad a great guy. Can’t believe it so sorry for your loss.
Kacy, we are so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids through this time. Joel was a wonderful Christian man and loved by so many. May God give you comfort and peace.
My heart aches for your great loss! Your husband, father, son & brother was an honorable man & will most definitely leave his mark on our community. Praying for your days ahead to be filled with wonderful memories of the numerous ways Joel touched your lives in a rich, positive way. Lean on God’s everlasting arms!
Donna & Family, you must be hurting so much! My prayer is that God wraps his loving arms around you and gives you comfort & peace! I always thought of Joel as one of my boys as he was growing up. He was special and his life has proven that! He and Joe are together again and that was surely a grand reunion. I will continue to pray for all of you in the coming days.
Love and prayers for all of you.
Our hearts have broke for all of you. We are continuing to pray for your beautiful family. Joel was nothing short of Golden. May the Lord comfort and carry all of you through this time and allow you all to heal in Him.
We were shocked and saddened to hear today of Joel’s untimely passing. Our hearts go out to you all…may God bless you and help you to cope. Please let us know if we can do anything for you, and especially for Ryder in this devastating time. Prayers for your hearts to be comforted and faith to sustain you.
There are no right words for a loss so great. Your family is continually in our prayers.
Joel was such a positive influence for all the years he coached Dara in softball. We appreciate his dedication and friendship over the years. He was a blessing to our family and many others. We are holding your family up in prayer for comfort at this time.
So sorry for your loss. Words are inadequate. Just know my prayers are with each of you. May Jesus enfold you in His arms.
Donna, we are sorry for your loss, I know Joel will be missed by the community and everyone his life has touched. We are thinking of you and praying at this time.
May our Lord comfort your family like only he can. The Dodd’s send our love and prayers.
Hugs and prayers for the Russell family.
I was very sad to learn of Joel’s passing. My love and prayers go out to you and your dear family .I am so sorry for this loss! Love and blessings to you!
Thinking of Donna, Jory, Jamie, Kacy and the extended Russell family. Thoughts and prayers for you all. So sorry for your loss, Joel was such a great man.
The Butts Family
We are so very sorry for your loss, we will be praying for your family during this difficult time!
Mike and I are so sorry for your loss. Joel was a godly man who will be missed in our congregation and the wider community. We are praying the Lord comforts you and guides you within his will.
So sorry to hear about Joel ! He and Jeff were such good friends as was both of the family’s . He will be greatly missed . Our prayers are with you and the family, God Bless! Doyle and Brenda Thompson
Kacy, may God bless and keep you and your children now and always. Sincere wishes for heart’s peace.
My prayers go out to the entire Russell family and that Joel may Rest In Peace for all time in the warm embrace of our Lord.
Kacy, so sorry for your loss. My heart breaks for you and your family! Sending prayers. Love you.
Our hearts go out to you, Donna and Kaci and family in the untimely passing of Joel. May the good Lord comfort you and strengthen you. You will be in our prayers.
Dr. and Mrs. David Bertino and Deloris Bertino
Am so sorry for your loss I will be praying for all your family
Kacy, and family, our prayers are with each one of you during this time. Joel was a wonderful husband, father, son, and friend. May God give each of you strength, peace, and comfort during the days ahead.
May you find strength in God during this difficult time. So sorry for your loss on Earth of such a good man.
Kacy, I was so sorry to hear of Joel’s passing. He was a good friend in high school and was so kind to my children when they met him this winter. My thoughts are with you and your family. Sending you hope, peace, and love during this exceedingly difficult time.
I am so very sorry. Prayers for your family.
Praying for you all. Joel was one of a kind. He will be greatly missed.
Goodbye Ole friend. Fly high with the angels. For God is your rock and savior.
Such a beautiful service for a beautiful soul!! He was the BEST son in law EVER!! We thought of him as our son!! RIP Joel! You are greatly missed by many!
Our prayers are with you Kacy, God will be there for you and the children.