Funeral services for John Meek Russell, age 68, of Brownwood will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 8, at Haven of Hope Church with Pastor Brian Hall officiating. Interment will follow at Ebony Cemetery under the direction of Netherton Funeral Home & Cremations. The family will receive friends from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, August 7, at the funeral home.

Mr. Russell passed away on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Seton Medical Center in Austin.

John Meek Russell was born on February 26, 1943, in Ebony Texas, to Luther William Russell and Mary Lennie Egger Russell. He was raised and attended school in Mullin and graduated in 1963. John had worked as a janitor for most of his life and enjoyed working with flowers and attending flower shows. He met the love of his life, Gloria Shirk in 1995, and on January 9, 1999, they were joined as one in marriage. They later renewed their vows in February 2011, at The Haven of Hope Church in which they had been longtime members. Mr. Russell will always be remembered as being full of love for others and always ready to give of himself.

Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife Gloria Russell of Brownwood; brothers and sisters, William Lee Russell of Brownwood, Virginia Ann Wright of Mesquite, Wanda Nell Dukes of Ft Worth, James Russell and wife Nedra, of Brownwood, Wylie Robert “Bob” Russell and wife Inez of Brownwood, Ernest Russell and wife Charlotte of Brownwood, Jerry Russell and wife, Marie of Brownwood; his mother-in-law, Clara Shirk, of Brownwood and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Russell, one brother, Ronnie Russell and three sisters, Mary Lucille Russell, Betty Jo Swain, and Dorothy Rose Russell.

Friends and family members are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.nethertonfuneralhome.com