Billy Ray Harper

A celebration of his life will be held at 11 am Monday at First Christian Church with Rev. Ben Hubert officiating. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Burial will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.

Billy Ray was born June 6, 1931, in Mills County to Presley O’Keith (Bud) Harper and Mattie Beshears Harper.

He attended school in Star Texas, graduating from Goldthwaite High School. He attended Howard Payne College briefly before joining the US Navy. While serving in the Navy he married his high school sweet heart, Nell Carman Wilkins, on January 1, 1952 in Goldthwaite Texas. Following their marriage, they spent the next three years in Norfolk Virginia and enjoyed every minute of it. After the Navy, Billy Ray got his Funeral Directors License and moved to San Angelo to join Johnson’s Funeral Home where he eventually became the owner for over forty years. During this time, he became invovled with other Funeral Directors in the area to form what is now Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company, which now is located in Abilene Texas operating throughout the US.

Billy Ray was involved in many other organizations and worthy causes but the very most important thing in his life was his wife, Nell Carman. He deeply treasured and cherished the sixty-two years they had together, until she preceded him in death August 10, 2013.

He was also proceeded in death by his parents, four brothers, Forest and wife Iris, Tommy Harper, Sammy Harper and wife Desi, Pete Harper, a sister Doris Harper and husband Tom Hastings.

He is survived by his daughter Gay Harper Schulze, and husband Trey, his two sons Ray Harper and wife Delilah, Jeff Harper and wife Cindy. His grandchildren Dr. Victor E. Schulze IV, and wife Destani, Elizabeth Edwards and husband Ray, Zachary Schulze, Will Harper and wife Kymberli, Hallee Harper, Mattie Harper, J.D. Harper and wife Ashley, and Cristin Harper, and his great grandchild Christine Edwards all of San Angelo. One brother Dewayne Harper and wife Marie of Goldthwaite, three sisters-in-law Zelma Harper of Munday Texas, Ruby Dell Harper of Star Texas, and Marsha Grove of Austin, a brother-in-law Charles Roy Wilkins Jr., and wife Anna of Holly Lake Ranch.

The family request in lieu of flowers memorials be made to West Texas Boys Ranch, 10223 Boys Ranch Road San Angelo, Tx. 76904-3665, or First Christian Church, 29 N. Oakes Street San Angelo Tx. 76903.

Family and friends may sign an online guestbook at johnsons-funeralhome.com