Bill Ferris

Bill Ferris, devoted and beloved husband, Dad and Poppy, went to be with his Lord and Savior on May 20, 2014 after three years of a valiant struggle to overcome his spinal cord injury. He was born in Houston on November 2, 1945 to Maxine and Tom Ferris. After graduating from Milby High School in Houston where he was a cheerleader, he attended the University of Texas at Austin for three years before being accepted into the UT Dental Branch in Houston. He married his best friend, Paula, before serving as a Navy dentist in California during the Vietnam War, and then they returned to Houston where he practiced dentistry for 35 years. He was loved by his many patients for being "painless and gentle." He and Paula retired to Spicewood, building a home overlooking Lake Travis.

Bill's passions were bay fishing at his cabin on the Intercoastal canal, spending time with his family and serving and witnessing for the Lord. He was an avid member of Lakeside Country Club, Houston, and Barton Creek Lakeside, Spicewood, but he said that catching a 30 inch trout was more exciting than making his two holes in one. As a member of Second Baptist Church, Houston, for twenty five years, he served in a variety of positions: Deacon, Chairman of the Second Mile Banquet, prayer room and telephone counselor, medical chairman for the Brazil partnership, Bible Study Class Director and Chairman of the churchwide shepherd groups. He was also a Bible Study Fellowship leader for several years. His first mission trip was to Riga, Latvia where he took supplies to help the dentists. In Brazil, he made many mission trips for Second Baptist to establish dental clinics in churches in Recife. His last mission trip was to Toronto, Canada in connection with another Second Baptist partnership. When he moved to the hill country, he served the Lord at Austin Ridge Bible Church, focusing on the Mobile Loaves and Fishes ministry. Then God assigned him his last mission trip of being a quadriplegic for three years. Being handicapped gave him a platform to witness like never before. He impacted thousands of lives and personally led many people to the Lord. His Caring Bridge website received over 130,000 hits. He was always a good man, but God raised him to greatness in his last years.

Bill adored his family and had an amazing bond with his first grandson, JB. Traveling with family and friends was one of his great joys in life. In his younger years, he enjoyed boating, waterskiing and playing tennis. Later in life, he loved to ski, hike and golf in Colorado and to experience different destinations within the US as well as abroad. He also loved being with his friends and was blessed to have them help him during his illness by driving him to therapy, exercising him, and bringing meals. We dearly appreciate all the friends, family, doctors, therapists, aides and prayer warriors who provided him with beautiful care and support during these past three years.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors are his loving wife, Paula; adoring daughters, Ashley Withers and husband, Jim, and Brooke Ezell and husband, Jeff; grandchildren, J. B., Cooper and Ellie Withers and Ferris Ezell; sister, Gretchen Ferris and brother, Butch Ferris and wife, Daniella, along with many nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Doug Bech, Bob Croyle, Gary Ekstrom, Leonard Ferguson, George Tracy and Bain Williams. Honorary Pallbearers are the men of Barton Creek Lakeside and members of Austin Ridge Bible Church who helped drive and exercise Bill. Reverend Brad Thomas aided by Reverend John Barksdale will officiate the funeral service on Friday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Austin Ridge Bible Church, 9300 FM 2244 (Bee Cave Rd.) followed by a reception at Barton Creek Country Club in the Governor's Ballroom in the member clubhouse, 8212 Barton Club Dr. The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 22, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 411 RR 620 South.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Mobile Loaves and Fishes for the Austin Ridge truck or to the charity of your choice.