OWENSBORO, Ky. — Brenda Hall had fought a long hard battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma and a stem cell transplant since July 2013. She died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2018, in the safe and secure arms of her husband and soulmate, Malcolm.
She was born to the late Alney Austin Harl, of Ohio County, Kentucky, and the late Emma Ventrice Gist, of Owensboro.
Brenda graduated from OHS in 1964 and Kentucky Wesleyan College in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in elementary education. She loved teaching second grade at Rockport, Indiana, Elementary School from 1968-1972. Having lived overseas for 13 years, she taught school for the Department of Defense in grades K-8. She spent the last 10½ years of her working life at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory, before retiring in 2007.
There are many love stories that deserve to be told. The story of Brenda and Malcolm is one of those stories.
They were neighbors for many years. Through children growing up, and other life changes, they lost contact with each other. Finally, the stars aligned, and things fell into place.
Theirs was a marriage built on deep and abiding love, mutual respect and trust. The 25th wedding anniversary of the marriage would have been celebrated in June 2018. Their marriage was so very blessed.
“One more minute, one more hour, one more day, one more memory is never enough.”
The theme song to their marriage was one by Ray Price “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” We all strive to be a superhero to someone. Brenda wanted so much to be that to her loving husband, Malcolm, and her five grandchildren Austin, Kaleb, Abigail, Logan and Colton.
She was also preceded in death by her sister, Mary Etta Harl in July 2016.
Brenda is survived by her loving husband, soulmate, and for the past 5 years, her tireless and loving caregiver, Malcolm.
She has two older brothers, Dwight Eugene Harl (JoAnn) and Freddie Alfred Harl, both of Owensboro; two daughters, Julie LeAnn Harris, of Whitesville, Kentucky, devoted mother to three sons, Kaleb, Logan and Colton, and Amy Lynee Turley (Stan), of Maceo, Kentucky, devoted mother to her son, Austin, and daughter Abigail. Also surviving are a nephew, Alan Lee Harl (Kelly), of Cecilia, Kentucky, and a niece, Karen Ann Leach (Scott), of Owensboro.
Throughout this long ordeal, the family would like to thank Brenda’s tireless, compassionate, and caring oncologist, Dr. Jewraj Maheshwari, who was beside Brenda every step of the journey. He was her superhero. Thanks also to Dr. Jeremy Bradley, Dr. Mathew Taylor, Dr. Troy Cornell and the amazing staff at the Vanderbilt Transplant Clinic in Nashville, Tennessee.
Services will be 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the chapel of Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with Bro. Tim Hall officiating. Visitation will be begin at 2 p.m. prior to the service.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the American Cancer Society and condolences may be left at www.glenncares.com.
