Billye Jo Harris, 81, of Warfield, KY passed away Tuesday, December 11, 2018. She was born December 27, 1936 in Martin County, KY daughter of the late Sheldon and Edith Moore Clark. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister Patricia Ann Muncy. She was a retired teacher and librarian from Martin County school system. She was a member of Warfield Baptist Church, retired teachers association and Martin County Historical Society. She is survived by her husband, Prentice Harris; two children Debra (Alvin) Bowyer of Huntington, WV and Susan Harris of Warfield, KY; brother-in-law John Muncy of Inez, KY; and several nieces and nephews. Billye Jo was a lifelong teacher with a degree in Elementary Education from Pikeville College and a Masters in Library Science from Marshall University. She had 40 years of service starting in an old fashion one room school for the first 2 years of teaching. Then she spent 15 years as a 4th grade teacher at Warfield Elementary and 23 years as Librarian at Warfield Elementary and Middle School. As Librarian, she saw every grade level for library skills classes. On various occasions, former students saw her years later and they would say... I read a library book everyday and blame you for it. She would reply "thank you very much. I tried to teach you to love books and reading." Thousands of students learned many skills they used throughout their life to become business men and women, doctors, lawyers and teachers. She loved the addition of Bibles to the safe trick or treat candy bags that daughter Susan and Kathleen Price helped to organize at Warfield Baptist Church. This year they gave out over 400 Bibles and eventually ran out 20 minutes before it ended. Many children were excited to get a Bible. Reading unlocks a world of potential experiences. The reading of the Bible and accepting Jesus Christ as savior is the key to eternal life in Heaven with God.
Donations to this initiative will go to purchase Bibles for outreach projects. Mailing address Billye Jo's Bible Book Club, P. O. Box 223, Warfield, KY 41267. Contacts for book club are Susan Harris and Debra Harris Bowyer. Funeral service will be conducted 7 p.m. Friday, December 14, 2018 by Pastor David Lemming at Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio with visitation one hour prior to the service. There will be another service 1 p.m. Saturday, December 15, 2018 at Callaham Funeral Home, Inez, Ky with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Clark Cemetery, Inez, Ky. Hall Funeral Home and Crematory, Proctorville, Ohio and Callahan Funeral Home, Inez, KY are in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.ehallfuneralhome.com.
