Eugene "Gene" Thacker Harrill

Eugene "Gene" Thacker Harrill, Jr., 80, of Ridgeside Terrace of Grace Ridge died Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at his residence with his family by his side. He was born June 11, 1926 in Caroleen, NC and was a son of the late Eugene T. Harrill Sr. and Susan Sloan Harrill. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister Margaret Harrill Abee. Gene was a veteran of WW II having served in the U.S. Army Air Corps and was stationed in Panama during the war. He was a very active member of Grace Episcopal Church in Morganton where he was Senior Warden, served on the Vestry, taught Sunday School for the youth, was very instrumental in the establishment of the Grace Church Endowment Fund, and served as head of the Every Member Canvas. He was an avid wood worker, Past President of the Morganton Lions Club, and helped with B.U.C.M. and Habitat. He was a member of the Morganton High School Class of 1943 and was a 1950 graduate of NC State University where he earned a B.S. Degree in Textiles.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Huffman Harrill of the home; children, Liz Willets and husband, Bill of Cumming, GA, Ellie Van Patten and husband, Jerry of Newnan Georgia, Fred Harrill and wife, Becky of Jamestown, NC; brother, William B. Harrill of Morganton; sister, Betty Ann Harrill of Houston, TX; grandchildren, Thacker Thurman, Christopher Thurman, Will Willets, Ellie Willets, Catherine Willets, Beth Van Patten, Katherine Schatzberg and husband, Thomas, Sloan Harrill, Susan Harrill, Samantha Harrill and Freddy Harrill.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2007 at Grace Episcopal Church with The Rev. Bruce Walker officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2007 at the Grace Ridge Mezzanine, 500 Lenoir Road.

Memorial gifts in Mr. Harrill’s memory may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church Endowment Fund, 305 King Street, Morganton, NC 28655 or Grace Ridge Scholarship Fund, 500 Lenoir Road, Morganton NC 28655 or to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese NC 28690. Sossoman Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.