William "Kelly" Harper

William Kelly Harper passed from this life Sunday, 08/21/2016, in Rosepine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Kelly was born near Dry Creek to Kennie Reid Harper and Myrtis May Wyatt Harper on December 22, 1934, the second of Four Children. Kelly’s celebration of Life Services will be held at Hopewell Community Baptist Church on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at 10:30am. Visitation will begin Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Hixson Funeral Home, DeRidder, Louisiana from 9:00am – 2:00pm, Visitation will then resume at 4:00pm at the Church until 8:00pm, and again on Thursday morning from 9:00am until the time of Services. Burial will follow in Hopewell Cemetery. Minister Performing his Services will include Brother Henry Hebert, Brother Lloyd Carroll and Brother Delbert Isbell, Hixson Funeral Home will handle Kelly’s Services. Kelly Graduated from Dry Creek High School in 1952. For about the next 17 years Kelly owned and operated Harper’s Grocery. He also served his ward as Justice of The Peace and Constable for many years. After closing his store, Kelly was hired by Hixson’s Funeral Home where he worked for over 39 years assisting Families through the burial of loved ones. His personal care and compassion became so well known that many times families would ask for him to assist in the services for their loved ones. Kelly always had great praise for the professional funeral home employees who taught him the different aspects of the business and then allowed him to participate in the application of what he learned. During this time and afterwards, Kelly hosted and co- hosted a Christian radio program on DeRidder’s KDLA radio station for several years. Kelly shared the greatest story ever told through the way he lived his life. He served as an Ordained Deacon, was a licensed and Ordained Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ well over 40 years. He read and studied The Bible over many times and loved sharing favorite passages. Kelly was called on to Preach Funerals and performed numerous Weddings. He was a faithful friend and consistently visited the sick and elderly. Kelly believed that he was a servant in the name of His Savior Jesus Christ. No one knows all of those he helped in some way, financially or buying groceries and taking them to those in need. Kelly lived his life as a Christian and died a Christian. He attended any type of Church when away from his home Church, attended revivals, conferences, training programs and gospel singings. He just loved praising his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and enjoyed worshiping and visiting with fellow Christians. Kelly still found times to do his “Hobbies”. He was an excellent cook and enjoyed cooking “Homemade food” dishes while he worked for Hixson’s and then called local businessmen and women to come and eat. His other hobby involved collecting Blue Ridge and other types of Pottery, specific kinds of China and historical relics. The last thing he wanted to accomplish was to have his Parent’s Old Home restored and later move into it. He became ill prior to the completion of that dream. Kelly was preceded in Death by his Parents, and infant Brother and his Older Brother, James Kenneth Harper. He is survived by his Sister, Janice Kay Harper Manning and his Sister in Law, Evelyn Burrow Harper. Kelly had numerous relatives and cousins and more Friends than anyone could count to celebrate his Life and Homegoing. Those he chose to be his Pallbearers include men he worked with at Hixson’s, Hardy Myers, Rodney Davis, Richard Allen and men from his Church and Community, James Black, Vernon Delone, James Welborn, O.J. Cooley, J.R. and J.P. Willis. Honorary Pallbearers will be Harold Mangum, Tony Stephens, Leslie Chaddick, and others he worked with at Hixson’s. In Lieu of Flowers, the Family would appreciate donations on behalf of Kelly, towards Dry Creek Baptist Camp – P.O. Box 580 Dry Creek, Louisiana, 70637. Condolences for the family may be placed online at www.HixsonFuneral.com