Kenneth Van Harrell (also known as Kenny or Junior) of Hermiston passed away peacefully at Kadlec Hospital in Richland, Wash. on Nov. 13, 2021 at the age of 44 with his mom, wife and son by his side.
He was born on April 23, 1977 at Community Hospital in Pendleton to Kenneth and Karen Harrell.
When Kenny was 2 years old, the family, which now included younger sister, Kilee, moved to Hermiston. Kenny attended elementary school at West Park and Sunset and went to Armand Larive Junior High. He attended Hermiston High School for his freshman year, then transferred to Echo High School, where he completed his high school years. In grade school he was on the swim team for several years, and absolutely loved it. He also played Little League baseball and high school football.
Kenny’s biggest passion was being outdoors, in the mountains hunting every season he was able to. He also loved to fish. If you didn’t find him with a gun or fishing pole, there was a pretty good chance you would find him with a chain saw somewhere, looking for that one tree that would be the biggest challenge to cut down to prevent it from falling on any nearby structures. He got great satisfaction when the tree would fall exactly where he had planned for it to. He loved sharing his love of the mountains, hunting, fishing, and cutting wood with his wife and boys. Kenny was also an avid gun collector, and strongly believed in the Second Amendment and our right to keep and bear arms.
At the age of 16, Kenny went to work at the Umatilla branch of Wilbur Ellis Company. His dad, Ken also worked there at the time, and that is where Kenny got the nickname “Junior.” At the time of his death, Kenny worked for Western Ag Improvements.
Kenny met his wife, Tiffany and her two boys, Justin and Beau, in August 2001. On July 19, 2003 the four of them became a family when Kenny and Tiffany married, with the boys by their side. From the start of their relationship, Kenny considered the boys his own. He took them everywhere. They would paintball or go to the mountains hunting or fishing. You could also find Kenny and the boys eating breakfast at Jack in the Box nearly every Sunday morning. The newest addition to the family was a granddaughter, Kinslee Ann Jones. She was Papa’s girl, and absolutely had him wrapped around her little finger. Kenny bought Kinslee her very first rifle, a .22 Cricket for her first birthday, and he was so looking forward to teaching her to shoot and taking her to hunters safety class, and sharing his love of the mountains and time at the cabin with her. Kenny is survived by his loving wife of 18 years, Tiffany; his son, Justin Jones; granddaughter, Kinslee Ann; his parents, Ken and Karen; sister, Kilee (Kevin) McNeeley; nephew, Jordan; nieces, Jenna and Hannah; his in-laws, Don and Sandy Obrist and Kim (Jim) Sexton; nephew, Tyler (Alanna) Sexton; Emily (Kyler) Barton; a great niece and nephew; Grandma Thelma; as well as many other aunts, uncles and cousins. Kenny undoubtedly left a mark on the lives of those who knew and loved him, and he will be missed beyond measure. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elizabeth and William O’Dell; his best friend – his Great Grandpa Van; Grandpa Bud; Uncle Jim; Tiffany’s Grandpa Bill; and several aunts and uncles.
A celebration of life service following state guidelines will be held on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 at 1 p.m. at the Hermiston Community Center.
Please share memories of Kenny with his family at burnsmortuaryhermiston.com.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
