advertisement

Crystal Lake pastors lose son in motorcycle crash

A bear hug. A kiss. And four simple words. "I love you, Daddy."

It was the last time the Rev. Bill Orris would speak in person to his son Billy, but the memory of that final contact gives the father some solace as the family grieves for the 26-year-old.

William "Billy" Orris of Crystal Lake was killed when a car collided with his motorcycle on Golf Road in Hoffman Estates Friday afternoon.

"He was beautifully passionate about life," Bill Orris said.

The blow came as Bill Orris and his wife, the Rev. Lisa Orris, were coping with another bolt out of the blue. On Aug. 1, a car smashed into Hope Church in Crystal Lake, where the couple are pastors, damaging the nursery, hallway and part of the sanctuary.

Repairs are starting at the church and Orris calls it a "miracle" no one was hurt. But there's no easy relief for the loss of Billy Orris, a smart, loving outdoorsman who was out shopping for his brother Michael's birthday when the crash occurred.

That affection for his younger brother was emblematic of Billy, who moved 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 came home, finding another job in his profession at Bellevue Pharmacy of Illinois in Arlington Heights.

Orris last saw his oldest son in person a week ago at Michael's adult baptism. They planned a family gathering Friday at a Harry Connick Jr. concert to celebrate Michael's 21st birthday.

"Billy was so excited," Orris said. "He was coming home on his motorcycle and was going into Mariano's (grocery store) to pick up some stuff for Michael's birthday."

Billy graduated from Palatine High School and went to Iowa State University but didn't complete his studies. Instead, he taught himself pharmacology and passed his board exams with flying colors to become a certified pharmaceutical technician.

"He loved working with people," Orris said.

Billy enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, hunting and exercising his chocolate Labrador retriever, his father said. The family has set up a memorial fund to help children and teens experience the outdoors at Hope Church's Bible camps.

His faith is reflected in Psalm 144, which praises God as "my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle ... my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in who I take refuge," Orris said. The younger Orris had passages from that Psalm tattooed on his arm.

Visitation is from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave., Crystal Lake.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Hope Church, 451 Ackman Road.

For details, go to http://www.davenportfamily.com/ or http://hopechurchcares.com/index.cfm.

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.