Rev. Billy Ray Harris was born on May 3rd, 1938 in Wichita, Kansas. He went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022.

He was born to parents, Melvin and Mattie Harris in Wichita, Kansas on May 3rd, 1938. He went on to graduate from Hamilton High School. Furthering his education, he attended Emporia State University where he studied mechanical engineering. During his sophomore year of college, an evangelist visited his university and shared the gospel that led to Bill’s salvation conversion. Soon thereafter, Bill attended Miracle Valley Bible College and Seminary of Arizona.

In 1960, he met the love of his life, Joyce Emmalene Rapp, at First Assembly of God in Wichita, Kansas. They were married on August 17th, 1964, and had two daughters, Jane and Janet, before relocating to Del City, Oklahoma in January of 1967. They went on to have eight more children, Jonathan, Julia, Joel, Jeanna, Jill, Janelle, Jessica, and Jennifer, eventually moving to their permanent home in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Bill and Joyce remained married for 58 years.

Bill was a tax accountant, realtor, paint contractor, roofer, teacher, and had a small dairy goat farm before eventually going full-time in the ministry. While in full-time ministry, he took multiple mission trips including to India and Mexico. He pastored churches for more than 40 years and participated in various jail ministries, home missions, Bible studies, and radio broadcasts, among other ministerial activities.

Bill witnessed everywhere he went and taught his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to do the same. He answered every phone call with “Hello, Jesus loves you!” He was a faithful servant to God and loved to read and memorize the scriptures. He was a man of deep faith and would often remind his children of I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” How special it is that the Lord would call him home during this Thanksgiving season that he loved so much!

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Melvin and Bobby Harris, and one grandson, Aaron Nix.

He is survived by his wife, Joyce Harris, his ten children, their spouses, his 47 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and four more greats on the way, as well as a host of friends and extended family.

A public visitation will be held for Bill Harris on Sunday, November 27th, 2022 from 4:00 pm-8:00 pm at Barnes Friederich Funeral Home in Midwest City, Oklahoma.

The funeral service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, November 28th, 2022 at Bethel Church of Choctaw, Oklahoma with burial to follow at the New Hope Cemetery behind Living Faith Ministries 5101 S. Henney Road in Choctaw, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Living Faith Ministries at 13901 S.E. 44th St. Choctaw, OK 73020