Obituaries

Willie Ray Davis

Photo of Willie Ray Davis
Willie Ray Davis, 93, of Benton, died Sunday, March 12, 2017. He was born February 17, 1924 in Hampton to the late Barney J. Davis and Annie O'Mary Davis. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Marion Dean Williams Davis; his daughter Sonja Marshall; brother Edgar Davis; and two sisters, Opal Harberson and Bertha Thomason. He enlisted in the Army on June 25, 1943 and was wounded in action on January 6, 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. On his return, he worked for the Rock Island Railroad as a section foreman, and in the maintenance department at Alcoa in Benton from 1953 to 1989. He was a member of Benton Masonic Lodge #34, and a member of United Steelworkers of America Local 4880. He is survived by his daughter Ratha Tracy (Frank) of Benton; son-in-law Ben Marshall of Benton; brother Grady Davis (Ruth) of Buckner, Mo.; four grandchildren, Wade Marshall (Michelle) of Benton, Deana McKnight (Tim) of Haskell, Ashton Turpin of San Jose, Calif., Brandon Ruff of Benton; four great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be Wednesday from 12-1 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. Graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. at Earnest Cemetery. To sign the online register, visit www.bentonfuneralhome.net.

Published March 14, 2017

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