Bobby Ray Harper, Jr., age 63, of Leith, ND, passed away at his home in Leith on Thursday morning, December 28, 2023.

Graveside services for Bobby will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at the Leith Cemetery in Leith, ND.

Bobby Ray Harper, Jr., the son of Mary Elizabeth Hester Harper and Bobby Ray Harper, Sr., was born November 3rd, 1960, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  He was the youngest of four, to include brother Ronny Dubose, sisters Olivia Reed, and Tammie Harper.
Bobby received his schooling in Winston-Salem, graduating from East Forsyth High School in 1979.  While in school, Bobby was very active in sports, including basketball, the swimming team, and his absolute favorite, football.  Because of the mentoring of his football coach, Bobby became a welder, earning a welder's certificate in 2003.
Also while still in school, Bobby helped clerk in his dad's store.  He would joke about all the candy he had access to, with his choice of favorite candy changing regularly.
Bobby and Evelyn Shepherd married in 1981, and welcomed their son, Tobias, in 1981.  Bobby and Evelyn later divorced.
While Bobby stayed in the Winston-Salem area, he worked at various jobs, honing his welding skills.
Bobby and Rhonda Hill welcomed their son, Christopher Jason, (C.J.), May 4th, 1989.
In July of 1989, Bobby joined the US Navy, proudly serving his country until his honorable discharge in December of 1991.  Bobby served as a flight deck crew member on the USS Eisenhower during the Gulf War, helping ensure the helicopters were always ready to fly.
After his discharge, Bobby worked at different jobs in various areas of the country, including Chicago, Omaha, and Norfolk, Nebraska.
While living in Norfolk, he met Sherrill Parsons, originally from Mott, ND, and they were married in Madison, NE, on May 22, 2002.  Bobby and Sherrill moved around for Sherrill's job as store manager of several Alco stores, with Bobby always finding work as a welder.
In 2008, they moved to Leith, where they lived at the time of his passing.
Bobby was a man of varied interests, including music, cooking, (loved his mac and cheese, and beans and ham),  singjng,
watching old movies, dancing up a storm, and sports.  He enjoyed fishing, and he especially loved his Dallas Cowboys, faithfully cheering them on through each season.  When watching football games, whether college or pro, he would make calls on the plays, usually before the ref would blow a whistle, and he was always right.
He supported Sherrill in everything she did, and wanted to hear her sing whenever he could.  He was there for her at every turn, and was always ready to lend a helping hand if anyone needed it.
Bobby passed away unexpectedly, but oh so peacefully, falling asleep in the Lord, in the early morning of Thursday, December 28th, 2023, in his home.
Graveside services with military honors were held Saturday, December 30th, 2023, with burial following in the Leith Cemetery.
Pastor Paul Ferrie officiated.
He is survived by his loving wife, Sherrill, sister Tammie Harper, sons Tobias Harper, CJ (Tanesha) Hill, three grandsons with another on the way, aunt and uncle Phillip and Floydette Hector, all of Winston-Salem, eight nieces and five nephews, brothers-in-law Steve (Pat) Parsons, Grand Junction, CO, Bruce (Lynn) Parsons, Mott, Randy Wintjen, Conway, AR, Shane Parsons, Bottineau, ND; sister-in-law, Sheila Jones, Berrien Springs, MI; numerous more nieces and nephews, and the many, many friends he had.
Preceding Bobby in passing are his parents, his in-laws, Bruce and Elsie Parsons, sister Olivia Reed, sister-in-law Stacy Wintjen,  niece Becky Jones, aunts , uncles, and cousins.
After Sherrill retired, they were always together.  He will be missed.