Bill Harris

KEARNEY, Mo. — Billy “Bill” Joe Harris, 79, died July 10, 2019, at his home in Kearney.

Born Aug. 29, 1939, son of the late Joseph Lee and Vera Louvie Harris, he had lived in Wyatt until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1958 and retired in 1981 after 21 years of service. In 1996, he retired for Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit at the Marine base in Beaufort, S.C. 

On Aug. 15, 1958, he married Vivian Dodgen, who survives of the home.

Survivors include: three children, Ladita (Tim) Jones of Newton, Iowa, Cathy (Tom) Burgdorf of Liberty and James (Ramona) Harris of Manhattan, Kan.; two sisters, Melba Whitney of Raleigh, N.C., and Sheila Clark of Charleston; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jerry Harris and Robert “Bob” Harris.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time at 10 a.m. Saturday at McMikle Funeral Chapel in Charleston.

Graveside rites with full military honors will follow at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.