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Graveside services will be held on Friday, Sept. 9, 10:00 a. m. in Greenlawn Memorial Park, 3700 River Blvd., with Memorial Services to follow at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Bible Church, 45 Manor Dr., for Willis Ray Harrison, who was born in Altus, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully in Bakersfield, CA after a short illness.
Ray was the youngest of nine children. He was raised and went to school in Oklahoma but finished his last year of high school in Los Angeles.
After graduation he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and served honorably from 1945 to 1947.
Ray moved to Bakersfield and met his future bride, Mary Ellen Leaver, in 1948. They were wed in 1950 and shared over 55 years of marriage. They become proud parents of three children, ten grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Ray was employed by Standard Oil in the service station business until 1958 when he started his own business, Ray Harrisons Chevron Station, located at Niles and Mt. Vernon. He later bought and operated Morrisons Automotive until he retired.
Ray loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was active for many years at Hillcrest Baptist Church as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. For the past twenty years he enjoyed worshiping the Lord and the fellowship at Calvary Bible Church. He and Mary were active in the Towers and Goers.
He held dear the many friends he and Mary made throughout their time at Hillcrest and Calvary.
Ray was a self-taught man who amazed his family and friends with his ability to learn and master the computer. This opened up a whole new world that he eagerly explored and learned from.
Ray is preceded in death by his son, Donald Ray Harrison; his parents, John and Lela Belle Harrison; brothers, Jim, Harold, Vaughn and Max and sisters, Opal and Maye.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Mary Ellen Harrison; mother-in-law, Ruby Leaver; daughters, Margaret H. Smith and husband, Jay, Sheila Tiede and husband, LeRoy; grandchildren, Colin and wife, Shannon, Ashley, Andrew, Derek, Tyler, Kelly, Kevin, David, Anneliese and James. He was blessed with great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Michael and Tyler. He is also survived by his brother, Edwin; sister, Joni and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be dearly missed for his faithfulness to his Lord and the integrity and honesty he always showed.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Samaritan Purse in care of Calvary Bible Church for the many victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Greenlawn Mortuary Funeral Directors
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