William Harper

William Ray Harper
January 27, 1938 – October 29, 2014

Ray Harper of Waco and recently of Bruceville, went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 29th with his family by his side. Celebration of Life service will be Friday, October 31st at 2:30 PM at OakCrest Funeral Home with Pastor Ken Riley Jr., of Hewitt Community Church officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be October 30th from 6PM to 8PM at OakCrest Funeral Home

Ray was the only child of S. R. and Nettie Harper also of Waco. He graduated from Waco High in 1955 and Baylor University receiving his degree in Business Administration in 1959.

A lifelong member of First Assembly of God, where he met his future wife, Sondra Joy Raborn in 1955. Ray served the Lord faithfully through his church. He served as a deacon and on many committees as well as Sunday School superintendent and lead a Boy Scouts troop. He served as the churches’ treasurer for more than 30 years.

Ray worked for his fathers’ company, Centex Manufacturing of Waco from a young age through college. After Baylor, he worked for William Cameron Company and was the first member of the company’s Executive Trainee Program. He later worked in the purchasing department of Central Texas Iron Works before joining the Texas Farm Bureau in 1967. Ray served with distinction in several executive positions with The Farm Bureau during his 32-year career. When he joined the Company, one of his first responsibilities was to successfully implement a new Insurance Policy Services department. He later went on to lead the Company’s computer services division as well as other key technology roles.

Ray is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Sondra Harper; son Craig and wife, Paula Harper of Frisco, TX.; daughter, Robin and husband, Kevin Daniel of Fort Worth; grandchildren; Stephen and wife Kelsey Harper of Denton & Jennifer and husband Dean and great-granddaughter Adalee Butenschoen also of Frisco. And many dear friends.

Pallbearer’s are; Stephen Harper, Dean Butenschoen, Kevin Daniel, Roy Britton, Scott Daily, Mike Lindsay, Ken Orton, Dale Townsend and honorary Wayne Lee, Paul Raborn Jr. and Dr. Richard Edwards.


The family would like to thank the staff on the Oak Grove wing of The Atrium in Bellmead for their care for our father. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to First Assembly of God, Waco building fund or a charity of your choice.