Funeral services for Mr. Harlos Branton McPhail will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 20, 2026, at Carson Baptist Church with his son, Brian McPhail, officiating, assisted by Bro. Randy Easterling. Interment will follow in Carson Cemetery, with Bro. Benji Sessums officiating. Saulters Moore Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

The family will receive friends on Sunday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Saulters Moore Funeral Home. Visitation will resume Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. until the hour of service at Carson Baptist Church.

Micah Askew, Joshua Askew, Isaac Askew, Jeremy Clark, Branton McPhail, Colten McPhail, Russell McPhail, and David McPhail will serve as pallbearers.

Harlos Branton McPhail was born on April 27, 1939, in Prentiss, Mississippi, and grew up in the Carson community on McPhail Road.

From an early age, he developed a passion for automobiles and machinery. As a teenager, despite having no formal experience, he successfully replaced a transmission for a local family member at the age of 14. That started his informal education and began his lifelong career as a mechanic in Prentiss.

He believed that if you wanted to learn something, you first had to be willing to try. That philosophy guided him throughout his life.

After spending several years working on cars, helping his uncle at McPhail Brothers Garage and other repair shops, Harlos began working at the Ford dealership in Prentiss in 1958, where he remained until the dealership closed in 1988. During that time, he operated his own shop on several occasions, with his wife, Janie, doing the books. Later, he continued his career with Berry Chevrolet under Mims Berry until retiring in the late 1990s. Around 2000, he transitioned to working from his home garage, where he worked every day at his own pace until his health incident.

Outside the garage, Harlos became widely known throughout Mississippi and South Louisiana for dirt-track racing. His natural mechanical ability allowed him to build fast, dependable race cars on often the lowest budget that consistently outperformed the competition.

After retiring from racing, Harlos continued doing what he loved most: repairing automobiles, restoring tractors, gardening, and spending time with his family. He quietly helped hundreds of people over the years by repairing or towing vehicles for little or no charge, never expecting anything in return, simply because they needed help.

Those who knew Harlos remember his positive attitude, generous heart, remarkable mechanical ability, and his unusually neat appearance for someone who spent his life working as a mechanic.

Harlos enjoyed many achievements throughout his life, including winning the 1980 Louisiana State Championship (Angie, Louisiana), finishing runner-up in the 1980 Mississippi State Championship at Whynot Speedway, earning over 100 feature race victories, winning ten consecutive feature races at Hattiesburg Speedway, and setting multiple track records throughout his racing career. In addition, he held Carson Speedway's all-time track record until the speedway closed, and he built and maintained his own winning race cars.

His best friend and co-car owner of the No. 98 "Pink Panther," Robert Harper, was his racing dynamic duo and was instrumental in their success. Robert was the technical machinist, and Harlos filled in all the gaps. He also drove cars for Ken Evans in 1979 and 1980, and later for Garry Sims and Lee Craven from 1981 to 1983.

Among his hobbies and interests, he enjoyed dirt-track racing, automotive repair, tractor restoration, bicycle riding, gardening, and roller skating in his younger years. Harlos learned by doing and was passionate about spending time with his family.

Harlos believed in learning through experience, solving problems creatively, and helping others whenever he could. His greatest legacy was not only the race cars he built or the championships he won, but the countless people he helped through his generosity, kindness, and willingness to lend a hand and a smile.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be considered to assist Janie, Harlos' wife, as she is recovering from health issues. Please direct gifts to Sonshine Church, P.O. Box 104, Carson, MS 39427.

Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com.