Kenneth Ray Harris departed this life August 6, 2025, at 7:04 a.m., at the Midlands Living Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Kenneth was born May 31, 1933, in Ava, Missouri, in his home. He attended grade school in Ava and Jr. High School in Rogersville, Missouri.

Kenneth went to work for Jimmy Diggins at a gas station in Rogersville at age 13. He shared the story of traveling with his brother Alvin and picking fruit in season to help support the family at home. Dad bought his first car at age 13.

Dad met our mother, Christine, and they were married February 8, 1952. Four children were born to this union: Kenneth Dean, Randall Gene, Dennis Ray, and Deborah Kay.

During his career, Dad preached and also worked at General Motors and then became self employed as a carpenter. He pastored three churches and pioneered four churches of which, we are sure. He quit pastoring and moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, in 1965. While in Iowa he continued to do carpenter work and move grain bins for his brother-in-law, Lonnie Nance. Dad and Mom were very active in the children’s ministry in their home church for several years, where two of the children went on to be preachers.

Dad and Mom moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1981 where he worked as a foreman for Morris-Tarvestead Investment and Property Management. Lee Tarvestead told his family that he had never seen someone with so highly esteemed references of honesty and trust. While in Springfield, Mom and Dad attended Central Assembly until Dad felt the calling of God leading him to go help plant a new church, Grace Assembly of God. Dad’s ministry was his priority in life.

Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents, Roy Raymond Harris, and Matilda (Uchtman) Harris; his wife, Helen Christine (Long) Harris; and a son, Kenneth Dean Harris; his brothers, Raymond, Alvin, Lonnie Lee, and Dewayne Harris.

He is survived by his children, Randall Harris and his wife, Jaquie, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Dennis Harris of Stuart, Iowa, and Deborah Livingston of Crane, Missouri; ten grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Wanda Nance of Nixa, Missouri, Delores Smith of Florissant, Missouri, and Ronnie Harris and his wife, Alice, of Mountain Home, Arkansas; extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held 2:00~4:00 p.m., Sunday, August 10, 2025, at Greenlawn Funeral Home East, 3540 E. Seminole, in Springfield. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 11, 2025, in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Ash Grove Cemetery, in Ash Grove, Missouri.