Pastor Wendell 'Ray' Byers of Willisville

Pastor Wendell "Ray" Byers, 82, of Willisville, Illinois, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at Sparta Community Hospital in Sparta, Illinois.

Ray was born on Aug. 14, 1939 in Herrin, Illinois to John and Anna Ruth King Byers. He married Evelyn June Bailey on Aug. 3, 1962, in Herrin.

Ray was a veteran of the U.S. Army, a retired coal miner and the pastor of Guiding Light Tabernacle Apostolic Church in Willisville. He was also a member of UMWA Local 1392.

Ray enjoyed fishing, trapping, gardening and sharing the fruit, but most of all he enjoyed preaching and sharing the Word.

Ray is survived by his wife, Evelyn June Bailey Byers of Willisville; his children, Tommy Dean (Betty) Byers of Willisville and Tammy June (John) Fred of Lavon, Texas; his grandchildren, Constance (Neill) Korbelic of Wylie, Texas, Ashley (Ben) McBride of Owensboro, Kentucky and Jean-Luc (Dani) Fred of Wylie, Texas; great-grandchildren, Amariah McBride, Gracelyn McBride, Jason Fred and Esther McBride; sisters-in-law, Voge Bailey of Roadhouse, Illinois and Audrey (Bob) Brown of Bush, Illinois; brother-in-law, John Patterson of Herrin; and several nieces and nephews.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Ruth King Byers; and a sister, Flossie Mae Byers.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, at Guiding Light Tabernacle Apostolic Church, Willisville, with the Rev. Bobby Langford, the Rev. Jerron Hurst and the Rev. Keith Avery officiating.

Burial will follow at New Hope Gardens, in Willisville.

Friends and family may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church. Due to executive orders, current COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.

Memorials may be given to Guiding Light Tabernacle Apostolic Church and can be mailed to Wilson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Ava, IL 62907.

To sign the guest book, visit www.wilsonsfuneralhome.net.