BELLA VISTA — Dr. Harrison Hayes Pike,

92, of Bella Vista, Ark., departed this life to be with His Lord Jesus Christ on Feb. 22, 2021.

He, with his wife June of 73 years, were career missionaries of the International Mission Board (Southern Baptist Convention) for 33 years beginning in Brazil, pioneering in Angola (then Portuguese West Africa) and South Africa, before returning to teach at the Equatorial Baptist Theological Seminary in Belem, Brazil. They retired to Bella Vista in 1990, where he reached one of his goals of a hole-in-one at age 79.

Harrison graduated from Texas High School in Texarkana, earned his B.A. from Ouachita Baptist University (OBU) in 1948, the M.R.E. and M.Div. degrees from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City, Kan., and the Doctor of Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He pastored churches in Arkansas, Texas, Missouri, and organized/ pastored many churches in Brazil and Africa, including one church with 6,665 charter members in northern Angola once the Christians there were able to worship freely after 14 years of being forced “underground”. He served on the Executive Board of the Baptist World Alliance, representing Angola, and was visiting Professor of Missions at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. As Professor Emeritus of Ecclesia College in Springdale, Ark., he and June continued to teach well into their twilight years. His story is recorded in his book, “Confessions, Anecdotes and Musings of a Real Live Missionary”, and in June’s book, “Just 9? A Story of the Visible Manifestations of Our Miracle-Working God.”

Harrison loved to preach and to teach, especially new Christians and pastors. He faced adversity with courage and uncommon faith, life with patience and a smile.

He is survived by his precious wife, June; three children, Donna (Mrs. Kenneth Brown) of Bella Vista; David, who lives in the Philippines; Daniel and his wife Judy of Alexandria, Va.; eight grandchildren, Michael, Joel, Stephanie, Andrew, Cris, Naomi, Caleb and Kiara; and 14 living great-grandchildren, Hannah, Joy, Bethany, Faith, Josiah, Aidan, Rhys, Dylan, Rowan, Paz, Bishop, Kirin, Keaton and Lucas.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Grace Pike; his brothers, Lester Jr., and Dana Terry; and his great-granddaughter, Hope.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the OBU Development Office for the Harrison and June Pike Scholarship Fund.

His wife June says, “We were blessed with his humor (until his dying day) and his contagious smile.” He faced the Communist threat in Brazil when his name was on the list to be shot, terrorist activity in Angola, mob violence in South Africa, and then survived when a huge tree fell on his head in Belem. Through it all, his theme song was “God is so good”.

Celebration of life service 2 p.m. March 20, 2021, at Village Baptist Church in Bella Vista.

Arrangements by Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. Fourth Street, Rogers, Ark. Online condolences to www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com .