William Roger Harris

William Roger Harris has entered the Kingdom of Heaven after nearly 90 years of service to his family, his country and his church. Bill (or Roger, depending on when you met) was born Feb. 9, 1933, to Earl and Audie Velma Harris. Roger grew up on the Indiana family farm with his 9 siblings, graduated from Chrisney High School where he was the star of the football team, and then joined the U.S. Marine Corp. fighting on the front lines in the Korean War.

 

Upon returning home with decorated honors, he married Ruth Hazel Smallwood and moved to Lemoyne, Ohio, where he raised his family and worked 30+ years on the float glass lines of Libbey-Owens-Ford. He was a proud member and treasurer of the Forks Conservation Club in Pemberville. Hazel unexpectedly passed in 1972. By the time he married Francis Decant Czyzewski in 1974, he was known as Bill and was a pillar at Bethel Assembly of God in Perrysburg, Ohio. He led the Royal Rangers program as Commander at various churches for nearly 3 decades, providing spiritual guidance and camping and hiking experiences to hundreds of boys. After retirement, Bill and Fran moved to Big Sandy, Tennessee, in 1995 so he could devote more time to his favorite sports: hunting and fishing. Fran, sadly, passed in 1997. He later married Brenda Maness and they devoted their time to church and their newly expanded family.

 

Surviving family include wife Brenda, children Karen, Larry, Sandra, Ben, Chris, Regina, Teresa, Pamela, grandchildren Kristoffer, Amanda, Brandon, Glenn, Tenille, Ginny, Sophie, Cory, Josh, Jeremy, William, Alyssa, Zachary, great-grandchildren Mya, Dylan, Maggie, Ryley, Emily, Eddie,  Ethan, Cooper, Sophie, Mikayla, Addison, Liv, Sloan, and Cooper, great-great-grandchildren Winter, Freyja, Jonathon and Alannah. He is preceded in death by many loved ones: his parents, his wife Hazel, his wife Francis, siblings Irene, Norman, Nathalie, Nina, Ruth, Howard, Charles, Kenneth and Robert, daughter Debbie, granddaughter Ashley and many beloved coon hounds. 

 

Visitation will be held at Westwood Pentecostal Church of God in Paris, TN, on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022 from 10-12 pm with Funeral Services at 12 noon. The following day on Friday, November 4, 2022 a graveside service will be conducted at 2 pm at Greenwood Cemetery in Tell City, IN, where Bill will be laid to rest near his parents. 

 

Stockdale-Malin Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.