Earl Harman, 42, died Saturday, June 11, 2011, at his home in Gatesville. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at Gatesville Funeral Home with the Rev. Nathan Booth officiating. He will be laid to rest at the Harman place in Gatesville. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Earl was born June 16, 1968, in Gatesville, Texas, to Mike and Mary Harman. He graduated from Gatesville High School in 1986, and worked as a concrete finisher. One of his hobbies was digging arrowheads. He did not simply love the adventure of searching and discovering artifacts not exposed for thousands of years, but he also loved the quest of learning about the artifacts he found. Earl shared this love with his entire family. He was intrigued by the past, whether it was Indian artifacts or his family history. He spent countless hours learning, discovering, and uncovering interesting pieces of the past. Earl also enjoyed reading, sketching, writing poetry, listening to music, and loving his family. Earl had a lifelong love for boxing and martial arts. This fascination began when he was a child and continued throughout his life. He studied it, lived it, and loved it, wherever it took him.

Earl was an amazing father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He loved spending time with his family, laughing, and making others laugh. He was as loyal as the day is long. Earl was a dreamer, and anyone who really knew him, loved him and loved that about him.

Earl was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Don Sheets.

He is survived by his children, Levi, Haley, Hondo "Burr", Anthony, and Julianna Harman; his parents, Mike and Mary Harman; brother, Sid Harman; sister, Bonnie and husband, Michael Jones; grandmother, Ara Mae Sheets; and nieces, Morgan and Mary Kate Harman, and Ashley, Alison, and Natalie Jones, all of Gatesville; many other family members; and a host of friends.