Continuing to comply with God's will in life and death Rev. William Ray "Billy Ray" Parmer, Sr., 75, of Lorenzo joined his heavenly Father Saturday, February 28, 2004. Memorial Services will be held at 3:00 PM, Wednesday, March 3, 2004 at the First Baptist Church in Lorenzo and at 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 4 at the First Baptist Church in Valley Mills. The memorial service in Lorenzo will be officiated by Rev. Dennis Williams, pastor of Lorenzo First Baptist Church and Rev. David Curry of Texas Baptist Committed. The second memorial service will be officiated by Billy Parmer, Jr., Rev.Phil Lineberger of Williams Trace Baptist Church in Sugarland, Rev. Paul Powell of Truett Seminary and Rev. Randall Scott of Immanuel Baptist Church in Paris, Texas. Arrangements are under direction of Adams Funeral Home of Lorenzo.He was born November 22, 1928 in Killeen, Texas to Ray and Mary Odell Parmer. He married Joan Bell on September 11, 1948 in Little River, Texas. Throughout his life of ministry, he served as pastor at Memorial Baptist Tem-Bel Mission, Dyess Grove Baptist Church, San Gabriel Baptist Church, Golinda Baptist Church and First Baptist Church of Valley Mills. He was chosen Rural Pastor of the year two consecutive years, while at San Gabriel and received the George W. Truett Award while at First Baptist Church in Valley Mills. He was involved in Mexico missions for forty years while he was a full time pastor. Since his retirement in 1996, he followed the command of Christ to "go ye into all the world" through the fervent missionary spirit which dominated his life. He founded and directed GAP ministries, which spreads the word of God and meets medical needs of those in the Chihuahua Desert area. During his lifetime of service, he also worked at Blackland Research Center, was a volunteer firefighter, a paramedic and volunteered with high school football teams as well as high school and collegiate track competitions.He moved to Lorenzo in 1996 from Valley Mills.

He is preceded in death by his parents; and one sister Joyce Parmer who died at the age of 12.