Willie Ray Harris, 86, of Beaumont passed away November 7, 2008 at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital.
Funeral Services will be at 2:00 p.m., Monday November 10, 2008 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Chapel in Beaumont. Officiating will be Pastor Tony Shaw of Amelia Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Visitation will be from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.
Mr. Harris was born January 20, 1922 in Pelican, LA to Lucien Hale and Annie Belle Gandy Harris. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, in the Air Force during the Korean War and in the Air Force Reserves for 10 years after active duty. He also retired as an electrical engineer for Gulf States Utilities after working for 40 years and a deacon and member of Amelia Baptist Church for 51 years.
Mr. Harris was a life member of IEEE as well as a past president; he was a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol of which he was a member for 40 years, a faithful member of the Gideons for 63 years, a member of the USL Alumni Association and a member of the GSU Retirees group, the Sideliners.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Maggie Harris of Beaumont; son, James Harris of DeRidder, LA and grandchildren, Elizabeth Hargraves, Hannah Ward, Nathanial Ward, Abigail Ward and Rachel Ward.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Eugenia Harris; parents; sister, Grace Gasperich and brother, John Harris.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Gideons International, 3005 Calder St., Beaumont, TX 77702 or to Amelia Baptist Church Building Fund, 8055 Brighton Dr., Beaumont, TX 77707.
The family would like to say thank you to the staff at Calder Woods Nursing Home for their loving care and support for the past 2 ½ years.