Raymond Keith Harris

AS1 Raymond Keith Harris USN (Retired), age 70, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Saturday, May 7, 2022. A son, friend, surfer, Sailor, husband, and great Daddy to many fur-babies, he was first and foremost a believer in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, Yahweh. Though Ray was brought up in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (Synod meaning walking together) he joined and attended Gateway Baptist Church of Atoka, TN. Raymond, a native of California, grew up in Compton, CA & graduated from Mission Viejo HS in 1970. Ray had a passion for cars and racing from the time he was in high school. His first car was a 1955 Chevy, and the first race car that he built – by himself - was a 1951 Willys with a Chevy racing motor in it. When the engine stuck, Ray drove the car through his Mother’s kitchen! After racing illegally, a judge gave Ray two choices: go to jail or join whichever branch of the Armed Forces he wanted to. Ray chose to join the Navy, and from 1972 until he retired in 1996, he had quite the career. He enlisted with the Navy and was stationed at NAS Miramar, CA, and from there his duty stations included (chronologically) NAS New Orleans, LA; NAS Atlanta, GA; NAS Dallas, TX; NAS Detroit, MI; NAS South Weymouth, MA; NAS Memphis/Millington, TN. On the last Friday of June in 1984, he married his beloved wife, Marcella Diane Robertson. Shortly after Ray & Marcella were married, he was assigned to Presidential security in 1984. After retiring from the Navy, Ray began working with Roadway as a diesel mechanic, getting back to his passion and love of cars. Mr. Ray had a love for animals. His first dog was an Australian Sheep Dog named Spook. Although they never had any two-legged children, he and Marcella were the “parents” to many four-legged fur babies. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Marcella Diane Harris; his cousins, Lanny and Shirley Hook, and Shannon and Nicole Hook, of Griffin, GA, Rodney Hook, of Hartman, AR, Ellen, Jimmy & Marla Wiley, of Columbia, MO, and one aunt, Ella Mae. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer (Sam) and Nettie Harris of Granbury, TX. Memorial services for Ray Harris will be held on Saturday, May 21st at Gateway Baptist Church, 1915 Rosemark Rd., Atoka, TN 38004. Visitation for friends and family will begin at 10 a.m., with the service to begin at 11:59 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Harris Fund, English Veterinary Care, 138 Commercial Drive, Atoka, TN 38004, an account set up for those who need assistance paying for the care of their fur babies, or Gateway Baptist Church - Atoka, Attention: Local Missions