Lonnie W. Ray Jr.

Funeral services for Lonnie William Ray Jr., 82, of Crossett will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, March 13, 2017, at the First Baptist Church of Crossett with Bro. Jamie Staley and Bro. Travis Roberts officiating. Interment will follow at Pinewood Memorial Park under the direction of Medders Funeral Home of Crossett.

Lonnie passed away on March 10, 2017, at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock, with his wife and family by his side.  He was born on June 20, 1934, to his parents Lonnie W. and Louise Williams Ray.  He was a lifelong resident of Crossett, and on May 9, 1954 married the love of his life Shirley Ford, and they celebrated almost 63 years together.  Lonnie was a deacon of First Baptist Church of Crossett for almost fifty years and a retired maintenance supervisor for Georgia-Pacific Corporation with 45 years of service. He loved life and family. He enjoyed driving his tractor on his farm, bird hunting, fishing, and camping. But, his favorite thing was spoiling his children and grandchildren with cherished annual family vacations to the beach, or to Branson MO. He always took time for family, and will always be remembered for sharing his loving shoulders with all his children and grandchildren.

Lonnie is preceded in death by his parents; a son, Lonnie Glenn Ray; and two brothers, Clifford Dean Ray and Robert C. “Bobby” Ray. He survived by his wife, Shirley; two daughters, Jan (Allen) Wooley of Hamburg and Sharon Ray along with her fiancé Kevin Tackett of Bastrop LA; five grandchildren, Mark (Robin) of Crossett, Brent Barnett of Magnolia, Ashley Ray McDonald (Caleb) of Monroe, LA, Blake Ray of Sterlington, LA and Catie Ray of Bastrop, LA; seven great-grandchildren ; two sister-in-laws, Judy and Carolyn Ray both of Crossett; along with a host of loving nieces and nephews who adored him.

Pallbearers will be Mike Ray, Dickie Weatherly, Mark Barnett, Brent Barnett, Blake Ray, John Ford, Matt Barnett and Tommy Hollis.  Honorary pallbearers will be David Ford, Mike Ford, Alan Ford, Bill Ray and the Phillip Gilmore Sunday School Class of the First Baptist Church.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 12, 2017, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Medders Funeral Home, 1564 Hwy 52W, in North Crossett.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 701 Main Street, Crossett AR 71635

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lonnie W. Ray Jr., please visit our floral store.