Obituary for Billy Harris Sr.
Billy Louis Harris, Sr., 80 years old passed away Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at Baptist
Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born December 22, 1941, in Atkins. He
was the son of late Orville “Dutch” Harris and Mae Ellen Foster Harris.
He attended First Pentecostal Church of Atkins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Orville John “OJ” and Leon Harris, two
sisters Daisy Tilley and Evelyn Bidwell, also a grandson in law who was more like a best friend,
Adam Willfond.
Those left to carry on his legacy are his wife of nearly 60 years, Joann Harris, daughter Renea
(Richard) Kirkland, Billy (Kristi) Harris and Bobby (Elida) Harris,
Grandchildren, Kayla Willfond, Kourtney (Matt) Sweeney, Three (Lauren) Harris, Bradley Harris,
Sha (KeiAnthony) Harris, Justin “Boots” Harris, Ciara (Justin) Roberts, Sadra (Devon) Harris,
Allie Harris, Trey (Ashley Bennett), Haylee (Seth) Cochran, Cody Peak, Kelly (Frankie) Landers,
Keri KIrkland, Crystal Brown, James Brown, Reyna Flores and Monica Lee (Luke) Barnard.
Great- Grandchildren, Ayden Cash, Lucas, Lucy, Liam, Liza, Libby, Lemi Rose, Kace, Gracelyn,
Jaylen, Maysie, Madisyn, Aubrey, Riggen, Byntlee, Hunter, Adalyn, Finnesse, Gracie, Gage, Ty,
Tate, Layla, Caleb, Lilly, Sophia, Drew, Olivia, Aiden, Noah, Jasper, Justice, Emma and Luca;
siblings, Sherman (Jimmie), Floyd (Linda), PeeWee (Judy), Pamela (Jerry Lee) and Charlie
(Billie Dean); a great grand DOG, who was more like his best friend.,a surprise friendship to everyone,
Apollo; and a whole host of nieces and nephews.
Dad, Big Bill, Paw, Poppa, Uncle Bill, and Billy Louise, no matter what name you knew him by,
he was the same as always. The big-hearted little man with a cowboy hat on. The cowboy hat
was his trademark, he wore it everywhere he was going, to church, ball games, or the grocery store
it didn't matter he wore it always.
Cowboy’ing was his way of life for many years. If he wasn't on the back of a horse, in a
chuckwagon or pulling a horse trailer to a rodeo or horse show he was in the woods doing some
kind of hunting. Billy was an avid hunter for many years. He wagon raced for over twenty years,
he then decided he was getting too old to race or his sweet wife Joann forced him to quit,
Shortly after he gave up the chuckwagon races, riding horses, rodeoing, he fell back in love with
the sport of baseball. And for the rest of his days when he was the absolute happiest was when
he was fence side watching one of his great grand kids play baseball or softball. No matter the
location many times he was there, he loved cheering these kids on. And they all loved playing a
really good game so their Paw would be proud of them. What they didn’t know is even if they did
their worst their Paw would still be so very proud of them.
He and his wife Joann of nearly 60 years paved the way for their kids, grand kids, great grand
kids and anyone who knew them and showed everyone just what a true love story looked like.
They were known as the King and Queen of our family. Although sweet Joann didn’t like the
nickname, she accepted it because she knew that Billy liked it, and she knew he was HER King.
Billy was the kindest of men, from giving his last $5 to someone in need to opening his doors
when family needed a place to stay was always there. For filling the gap for anyone needing a
father figure, he filled the position happily. To know him was to love him, and anyone who met
him once could never forget him. He was certainly unforgettable.
Billy was a very hard worker, working almost all his life. Not only once did he try to retire but it
took him THREE times to officially retire. And once he did, he probably thought he should have
already done so. Because he lived that easy life, eating his sweet wife’s biscuit and gravy, taking
many naps throughout the day and doing whatever he wanted. He enjoyed his final years of his
life in luxury is what he’d call it. His sweet wife, children, grand-kids, and great grand-kids will forever cherish every memory they’ve ever had with Billy, Dad, Paw. Although he stood just around five foot and six inches tall, his family thought he was ten foot tall and bulletproof. He will have a legacy on not only them but on everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He truly is an unforgettable man, who will be deeply missed by all. As we say our last tearful goodbye to the one and only - Billy Louis Harris, SR we all
understand this is where the cowboy rides away.
Visitation will be held 1:00 PM, Saturday, September 17, with funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel with Bro. Richard Kirkland and Bro. Kenny Long officiating. Burial will be held in Bells Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins.
Pallbearers are Three Harris, Bradley Harris, Boots Harris, Cash Willfond, Scooter Harris, Matthew Sweeney, Cody Peak and Trey Bennett.
Honorary pallbearers are Charlie Harris, PeeWee Harris, Sherman Harris, Liam Sweeney, Jaylen Harris, Kace Harris, Luke Barnard, Aiden, Hunnum, Floyd Harris, Devon Dutton and Keianthony Cummings.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com
Health Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born December 22, 1941, in Atkins. He
was the son of late Orville “Dutch” Harris and Mae Ellen Foster Harris.
He attended First Pentecostal Church of Atkins.
He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers Orville John “OJ” and Leon Harris, two
sisters Daisy Tilley and Evelyn Bidwell, also a grandson in law who was more like a best friend,
Adam Willfond.
Those left to carry on his legacy are his wife of nearly 60 years, Joann Harris, daughter Renea
(Richard) Kirkland, Billy (Kristi) Harris and Bobby (Elida) Harris,
Grandchildren, Kayla Willfond, Kourtney (Matt) Sweeney, Three (Lauren) Harris, Bradley Harris,
Sha (KeiAnthony) Harris, Justin “Boots” Harris, Ciara (Justin) Roberts, Sadra (Devon) Harris,
Allie Harris, Trey (Ashley Bennett), Haylee (Seth) Cochran, Cody Peak, Kelly (Frankie) Landers,
Keri KIrkland, Crystal Brown, James Brown, Reyna Flores and Monica Lee (Luke) Barnard.
Great- Grandchildren, Ayden Cash, Lucas, Lucy, Liam, Liza, Libby, Lemi Rose, Kace, Gracelyn,
Jaylen, Maysie, Madisyn, Aubrey, Riggen, Byntlee, Hunter, Adalyn, Finnesse, Gracie, Gage, Ty,
Tate, Layla, Caleb, Lilly, Sophia, Drew, Olivia, Aiden, Noah, Jasper, Justice, Emma and Luca;
siblings, Sherman (Jimmie), Floyd (Linda), PeeWee (Judy), Pamela (Jerry Lee) and Charlie
(Billie Dean); a great grand DOG, who was more like his best friend.,a surprise friendship to everyone,
Apollo; and a whole host of nieces and nephews.
Dad, Big Bill, Paw, Poppa, Uncle Bill, and Billy Louise, no matter what name you knew him by,
he was the same as always. The big-hearted little man with a cowboy hat on. The cowboy hat
was his trademark, he wore it everywhere he was going, to church, ball games, or the grocery store
it didn't matter he wore it always.
Cowboy’ing was his way of life for many years. If he wasn't on the back of a horse, in a
chuckwagon or pulling a horse trailer to a rodeo or horse show he was in the woods doing some
kind of hunting. Billy was an avid hunter for many years. He wagon raced for over twenty years,
he then decided he was getting too old to race or his sweet wife Joann forced him to quit,
Shortly after he gave up the chuckwagon races, riding horses, rodeoing, he fell back in love with
the sport of baseball. And for the rest of his days when he was the absolute happiest was when
he was fence side watching one of his great grand kids play baseball or softball. No matter the
location many times he was there, he loved cheering these kids on. And they all loved playing a
really good game so their Paw would be proud of them. What they didn’t know is even if they did
their worst their Paw would still be so very proud of them.
He and his wife Joann of nearly 60 years paved the way for their kids, grand kids, great grand
kids and anyone who knew them and showed everyone just what a true love story looked like.
They were known as the King and Queen of our family. Although sweet Joann didn’t like the
nickname, she accepted it because she knew that Billy liked it, and she knew he was HER King.
Billy was the kindest of men, from giving his last $5 to someone in need to opening his doors
when family needed a place to stay was always there. For filling the gap for anyone needing a
father figure, he filled the position happily. To know him was to love him, and anyone who met
him once could never forget him. He was certainly unforgettable.
Billy was a very hard worker, working almost all his life. Not only once did he try to retire but it
took him THREE times to officially retire. And once he did, he probably thought he should have
already done so. Because he lived that easy life, eating his sweet wife’s biscuit and gravy, taking
many naps throughout the day and doing whatever he wanted. He enjoyed his final years of his
life in luxury is what he’d call it. His sweet wife, children, grand-kids, and great grand-kids will forever cherish every memory they’ve ever had with Billy, Dad, Paw. Although he stood just around five foot and six inches tall, his family thought he was ten foot tall and bulletproof. He will have a legacy on not only them but on everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He truly is an unforgettable man, who will be deeply missed by all. As we say our last tearful goodbye to the one and only - Billy Louis Harris, SR we all
understand this is where the cowboy rides away.
Visitation will be held 1:00 PM, Saturday, September 17, with funeral service to follow at 2:00 PM at Lemley Chapel with Bro. Richard Kirkland and Bro. Kenny Long officiating. Burial will be held in Bells Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins.
Pallbearers are Three Harris, Bradley Harris, Boots Harris, Cash Willfond, Scooter Harris, Matthew Sweeney, Cody Peak and Trey Bennett.
Honorary pallbearers are Charlie Harris, PeeWee Harris, Sherman Harris, Liam Sweeney, Jaylen Harris, Kace Harris, Luke Barnard, Aiden, Hunnum, Floyd Harris, Devon Dutton and Keianthony Cummings.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com