Harrison Raymond Banks

HARRISON RAYMOND BANKS was born June 11, 1935, on a small farm near Brown City, MI, to Peter Harrison and Gladys L. Banks. His half-sister, Ola Mary, welcomed him to the family. Other siblings came along in the following years: Deloris, in May 1936, Orville, August 1938, Marilene, June 1940, and Eldin in March of 1951.

They had a full house and enjoyed playing table games together. The farm gave them lots of outdoor fun and work as well; cows to milk and care for, chickens to collect eggs from and a large garden to plant and weed in the summer months.

After graduation from Brown City High School as Valedictorian, Ray went to work with his father, an automobile mechanic, in the Detroit area for the summer.

He was granted a full scholarship and began classes at the University of Michigan where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in June of 1958.

While still a student at the U. of M., he courted and married Nancy Lou Cady of Gladwin, MI, in December 1955. To this union was born Garth Raymond (1957), Karla Rae (1958), Paige Nanette (1961), and Peter Melvin (1962). Ray worked for Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, MI for 5 years following his graduation.

In 1962, Ray answered the call of God on his life and moved the family to Wilmore, KY, where he entered Asbury Theological Seminary. He worked full-time at several different jobs, and carried a three-quarters load at seminary. He was graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in May of 1968. Nancy also was given her PHT ("putting hubby through") degree at this time.

The family looked to the West for future employment and Ray joined the Pacific Northwest Conference of the Free Methodist Church. At that time, the conference included WA, British Columbia and Alaska. Ray's first appointment was to Surrey, B.C. for two years. The next postings were: Seattle, WA for five years, Summerland, B.C. for six years, Olympia, WA for five years, Kamloops, B.C. for two years and then Vancouver for four years. He served seven churches in WA and Canada during his ministry, ending with Roblin, Manitoba for the final six years.

Ray took a break from pastoral ministry in 1992-1993 and attended St. Stephen's College in the University of Alberta for a year of Residency of Pastoral Education.

During his years as Pastor, Ray also served as chaplain in local hospitals and with Citizen's Patrol, community policing and was always involved in various community organizations where he lived.

Ray retired in 1999. He and Nancy bought a condo in Abbotsford and settled down to retirement. However, Ray's missionary spirit revived and he took the position of coordinating Project Missions, a Global program in the Free Methodist Church to raise funds through the collection and sale of used postage stamps and stamp collections. Ray had been a life-long stamp collector off and on throughout his lifetime, so this fit well with his passion for missions and his skill with stamps. Project Missions raised well over $50,000 over the years.

Ray had a "pastor's heart" and in the years of his ministry, many came to faith in Christ. When faced with the human condition, Ray often said, "All have sinned, but we have an advocate with the Father: Jesus Christ, who forgives our sins."

Ray is predeceased by his parents, half-sister Ola Mary and sister, Marilene. He is survived by one sister, Deloris (Jay) and two brothers, Orville (Rita) and Eldin (Holly), his wife, Nancy of 65 and a half years, his four children: Garth (Amy), Karla (Kaskadare), Paige and Peter (Cheryl); six grandchildren and their spouses: Tyson, Elise, Nanette (John), Rilla, Micah (Sara), Hannah (Jerome) and two great granddaughters, Gavia and Pepper.

Nancy would like to especially thank all the Fraser Health Home Care workers who came to care for Ray during the last five years; making it possible for him to stay in his own home until he went to his Heavenly Home on July 3, 2021.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to The Gideons International and help give Bibles throughout the world. Go to: SendTheWord.org.

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday August 13, 2021 at 1 p.m. at Heritage Alliance Church at 3440 Mount Lehman Road in Abbotsford, BC. All are welcome.