Mr. Raymond Wesley Harris, age 94 of Elkin, passed away Sunday, January 23, 2011 at Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home. He was born October 7, 1916 in Wilkes County to John and Levia McCann Harris. Mr. Harris was retired from Chatham Manufacturing and was a member of Knobbs Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was the oldest living member. He enjoyed woodworking and built many little red rocking chairs for each newborn child of Knobbs Baptist Church for the last 14 years.Mr. Hsrris was also one of the founding members of Austin Volunteer Fire Department. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy Lyon Harris; son James Harris, brothers: Sam Harris and John Wesley Harris, Jr.; sisters: Janie Poplin and Savanna Stout. Survivors include son Wayne Harris and his wife Linda of Forest City, daughters Carol Collins of Elkin and Lorene Sill and her husband David of Joplin, MO., adopted son Denver Ledbetter and Melissa Billings of Elkin; daughter-in-Law Arlene Harris of N. Wilkesboro; brothers: Boyd Harris and his wife Patsy and Buddy Harris and his wife Faye; sisters; Ila Cockerham, Carol Harris, Peggy Perry, Myrtle McGrady, Ann Speicher and her husband Carl, Ruby Robinson and her husband Roger, and Mary Lee Langley and her husband Roger; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Knobbs Baptist Church with Rev. Todd Byrd and Rev. Amos Lyon officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service. In Lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made to Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017 or to Knobbs Baptist Church c/o Cathy Wood, 3059 King Billings Road, Traphill, NC 28685. The family would like to thank Mountain Valley Hospice and Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice home for their kindness.
