Juanita June (Miller) Harrell, 88, passed away quietly on November 30, 2016, at Blake Hospital, a resident at the Inn at Freedom Village, Bradenton, Florida. Juanita was born on June 29, 1928, daughter of Robert Miller and Ruth Waller, in Youngstown, Ohio. Her family moved to Michigan where she attended elementary school. After her father's death in 1942, she and her widowed mother, Ruth, moved to California to live with her brother Bob who was serving in the US Army at Camp John T. Knight. They returned to Flint after the end of WWII and she graduated from Hoover High School in 1946. After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, Leonard Dale Harrell, on December 7, 1946. The couple had four children: David, born in 1947 (deceased); Daniel, born in 1949; Dennis, born in 1952 (deceased); and Debra, born in 1955 (deceased); six grandchildren: Christina, Roxanne, Angela, Amanda, Stefani, and Brandon, and 11 great-grandchildren.

In the 1960's, Juanita determined to help her family by furthering her education to become an elementary school teacher. It was during her time in college that her husband, Dale, died in April of 1969. She nevertheless continued her studies despite having to work two jobs with three children still at home. She attended Genesee Community College, Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan-Flint. After her graduation from the University of Michigan-Flint in 1973, Juanita moved to Beaufort, South Carolina, where she taught in the elementary schools for fifteen years, retiring in 1988. In Beaufort, she was active in the education community and in the Order of the Eastern Star. She served as Worthy Matron in the Eastern Star in the 1980's. She also spent many hours working with children in an English as a Second Language program.

In retirement, Juanita enjoyed helping to raise her grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, playing cards, playing Bingo, and was an excellent seamstress who found great pleasure in her sewing projects. Juanita began wintering in Florida in 1987, and lived the last 12 years of her life as a resident at Trailer Estates in Bradenton, Florida, where she was active in a variety of park activities and where she enjoyed the friendship of a long list of Trailer Estates residents. She attended Trailer Estates Covenant Church. She was a proud Florida Democrat.

Juanita was predeceased by her husband, L Dale Harrell, her sons David and Dennis Harrell, her daughter Debra Byrd. She is survived by a son, Dan (Ellie) Harrell, her 6 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, brother-in-law Robert (Gerri) Harrell and a number of nieces and nephews, including two special nieces, Lori (Tim) Dalton and Sharon (Ken) Kingsland.

Per her wishes, Juanita has been cremated and will be interred in the family plot at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Flint, Michigan. A memorial service will be held 11:00 AM, January 11, 2017 at Trailer Estates Hall, 1903 69th Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida. Memorial Contributions may be made in her name to the Scholarship Fund at The Inn at Freedom Village, 6410 21st Ave West, Bradenton, Florida 34209