Layne Horace Harwell, 80, a retired attorney-at-law and Navy captain, died Thursday, June 25, 2015, at a Fort Worth hospital.
A private family service is pending in Aurora Cemetery.
In lieu of floral tributes, Layne’s family would appreciate any desired contributions honoring him to one ot the following organizations: North Texas Office of the American Diabetes Association, ada.northtexas.wordpress.com/, 972-392-1191; Animal Adoption and Rescue Center of North Richland Hills, www.nrhtx.com/NewShelter, 817-427-6570; or “The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation,”(providing musical instruments for low-income band and orchestra students) at www.mhopus.org/, 1-818-762-4328.
Layne Harwell was born July 28, 1934, in Newark to William Thomas and Maurine Harwell. He grew up in the Rhome area and graduated from North Side High School in 1951. He attended the University of North Texas graduating in 1956 with a degree in political science. In 1957, he joined the Navy as an officer, training as a pilot and engineer. He served in Operation Deep Freeze in Antarctica from 1962-63. Layne graduated from the UT Austin School of Law in 1973 and practiced criminal defense law in Tarrant County for 30 years, trying hundreds of felony cases during his career. In addition to participating in Democrat politics, he was a former Toastmasters member.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen.
Layne is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Valerie Melancon and husband, Mark; son, Martin and wife, Laurie; daughters, Andrea, Vanessa and husband, Edward; and grandchildren, Carly, Jeffry and Eryn; and nephew, Lee.
