Russell, Hal September 2, 1948 - January 19, 2022

Harold Allen Russell, 73 (“Hal” – “Smilin’ Hal” – “Cray Turtle” – “Hammerin’ Hal”) of Osceola, MO passed away peacefully on January 19th while surrounded by his family.

Hal was born on September 2, 1948. As a kid he enjoyed all the adventures of growing up as a typical farm boy on his families’ farm in Lowry City, MO; in which he has told us many memories of his childhood.

He attended Lowry City High School, graduating in 1966. Hal went back to school full-time, commuting to CMSU, while maintaining a family and a farm at 35 years old. He graduated with an Education degree and later earned 2 Masters: 1 in education (CMSU) and 1 in counseling (SMSU).
Hal and Linda were married on January 5, 1973 in a candle lit church at South Broadland in KC during an ice storm with no electricity. They just celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary!
After high school, Hal began working on the farm milking cows for his dad and then moved to Kansas City to work at Hallmark Cards. Hal’s draft card was called, and he served in the Army bravely in the Vietnam war in 1969. After the war he returned to Hallmark, volunteered for the Peace Corps; teaching farming in India, worked for the City of KC, and then moved his “city girl” wife to the country in Lowry City, to begin a 20+ year career in farming. After selling the farm, he purchased his dream home in the woods in rural Osceola.

Hal taught his 1st of his 21-year teaching career at Lakeland and then took a job
at Osceola to teach 2nd grade and later becoming their elementary counselor. He may of have had an unorthodox teaching style (snakes, iguana, pottery, taxidermy, etc.…), but he taught so many lessons that couldn’t have been learned in a book. While teaching he had the opportunity to coach baseball, basketball, and he started up the cross-country program at OHS. Some of his proudest moments were his 2 undefeated Jr High Girls seasons of 2004-2006 and taking cross-country athletes to state. For so many people- Hal was a mentor for the many challenges of life.

Hal took his family on many outdoor camping vacations throughout the country, mainly out west
through the mountains and north on bear hunting trips to Canada. He began running 5k races that
quickly escalated to 10k’s, marathons, and running the Pikes Peak Marathon several times. While in Leadville, Hal was bitten by the mountain biking bug which started him on the path of becoming a legend.

Hal rode too many races to list. Some of his highlights were multiple Leadville 100’s, completing the 5150-mile American Trail Race in 2017 and completing the 2750-mile Tour Divide Race 6 times. His mountain biking heroes also look at him as an inspiration and their hero.
Hal’s hobbies included: taxidermy, pottery, sketching, traveler, bike-packing, mountain biking, marathon running, hiking, mountain climbing 14’ers, coaching, hunting, archery, fishing, mushroom hunting, spelunking, photography, photo-stories, author, gardening, sky-diver, hunting guide, jack of all trade builder, cook, Chiefs and Royals fan, attending grand-kids sporting events, and according to Linda a “stuff misplacer”.

Hal summarized many events of his life in his autobiography “Touch Both Lines.”
Hal was predeceased by his parents, Albert “Leroy” & Elizabeth Russell, his adventurous-spirited older brother Tommy, his nephew Casey, and his in-laws- Ivan and Martha Welker.
He will be deeply missed by his “the good wife” Linda, and his 2 children, Sarah & Dallas (Dawn). He was so proud of his 5 grandchildren Lilyona, Mason, London, Hallie, & Jordan. His 4 younger sisters Theresa, Gloria, Mary, & Inez will miss his orneriness and the countless jokes he played on them. Most of his nieces and nephews at one point or another, looked at him for guidance as a father figure and used him for inspiration. Hal is also survived by his brother-in-law Gary (Lisa) and his foreign exchange student son, Jani from Finland.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Osceola Ball Association (OCAA) in care of the Sheldon-Goodrich Funeral Home.