CRYSTAL LAKE, IL (August 10, 2015) — Billy Orris, the eldest son of Bill and Lisa Orris, pastors of Hope Covenant Church, was killed Friday on his way home to his younger brother’s birthday party when a van collided with his motorcycle at an intersection.
Billy, 26, had been shopping for gifts for his brother’s twenty-first birthday party. A story in the Daily Herald newspaper highlighted the bond between the two brothers.
According to the story, Billy had moved several years previously to Manhattan, Kansas, from Iowa, and found a job as a pharmaceutical technician there so he could cheer Michael on as a Kansas State basketball player. “That whole year, he went to every one of Michael’s games,” Bill Orris said.
When Michael switched to Northern Illinois University, Billy returned home and found another job at a pharmacy so he could again support his brother.
The accident comes just a week after a 19-year-old man lost control of his vehicle and slammed into the church, causing extensive damage, but he suffered minor injuries.
Staff led Sunday’s worship service. The Orrises told a friend they had wanted to attend but found it too painful.
Visitation will be at the Davenport Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hope Evangelical Covenant Church.
