He was born in Mayflower, Arkansas to Richmond “Rip” and Jewel Harris on March 29, 1933. He was raised with 5 brothers and 4 sisters.
He married his sweetheart, Anita Faye Kling, on November 28, 1952. Just a few short weeks later, he went off to serve in the Korean War. Roy returned home nearly 3 years later to not only a wife, but his first daughter, Lavada Ann, who had yet to meet him. Their second daughter, Debra Sue, was born a year after he returned home.
Roy soon started his own construction business and did quite well for himself. However, in September 1967, at the age of 34, Roy trusted Christ as his Saviour. That decision changed the course of not only his life, but hundreds or perhaps thousands of lives.
He attended Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in San Dimas, California. Roy's college graduation began 28 eventful years for Roy and Anita. He served as an associate pastor for Heritage Baptist Temple in Little Rock, Arkansas and pastored 3 churches in Arkansas; River Valley Baptist Church in Russellville, Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville, and Bible Baptist Church in Rogers. He also published a church helps paper, The Regions Beyond and started the Back to Bethel Camp Meeting. Great campaigns, great days and great times of fellowship, and building programs are only a shadow to the many men and women and boys and girls that came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
In what they thought would be their "golden years," Roy and Anita continued working with the paper and he preached out as he had the opportunity. However, shortly after leaving the pastorate, Anita was diagnosed with Alzehmier’s and Roy became her primary care giver. Anita went home to be with the Lord on November 3, 2011, after 58 years of marriage.
In 2012 Roy met a lady at McDonald’s who he would later describe to be “the most interesting lady I’ve ever met!” He often would also state that Ruby didn’t know a stranger and had to have more relatives and friends than anyone else in the world! Over sausage biscuits, apple pie, and coffee they struck up a friendship and fell in love. At the age of 79, Roy married Ruby Ramsey on November 12, 2012. In their early years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling to many places - including Puerto Rico! They also enjoyed family fellowships, gardening together, going to and having garage sales, and fussing at each other in the kitchen. Ruby was a true God-send to Roy and he appreciated her loving care and sharing of Bible verses with him and others when they were hurting. He always got a good laugh when she would tell him that he was being too ornery. Ruby served as his faithful companion for 11 ½ years and was at his side at his time of death.
Roy’s life verse was II Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Roy faithfully lived out this verse in his life in the training of hundreds of men and women to “Go out and claim a chunk of this world for Christ!”
A visitation for Roy will be held Monday, July 15, 2024 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, AR 72117. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM, 7724 Landers Rd., North Little Rock, AR 72117. A burial will occur Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 12:00 PM at Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd, North Little Rock, Arkansas 72117.
PALLBEARERS
Brett Holland
James Morris
Andrew Copeland
Timothy Copeland
Nathan Copeland
Troy Hack
Aidan Morris
Ricky Shemwell
Kirby Ramsey
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