Ray Elsworth Collison

Ray Elsworth Collison, 88, a lifelong resident of Bald Knob, passed away peacefully July 31, 2013 in Hospice at WCMC in Searcy. Born to Everett Oral and Elsie Osmon Collison on February 16, 1925, Ray was a World War II Veteran having served in the Occupation Forces in Japan. Ray was a former pipe-liner and retired from James H. Matthews Maintenance Dept. in 1987. He loved to hunt and fish in his younger years and garden, truck patch, and spend time with his loving Pekinese, "Baby" in later years. Baby was Ray's constant companion after the passing of his loving wife, Rolinda, in 2007. Survivors include one daughter, Martha (Ernie) Blount of Searcy; two sons, Bob (Patricia) Collison of Bald Knob, and Jack (Debra) Collison of Judsonia; one step-son, James Edwards of Little Rock; nine grandchildren, Marcia Blount Wilson, Tim Blount, Ken Blount, Sharon Collison Potter, Michael Collison, Carrie Collison Jones, David Collison, Callie Collison Owens, Amy Collison Elliott; 17 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Ray is also survived by two brothers, Henry Collison and Clarence Collison, both of Bald Knob. Ray is predeceased by his parents, one brother, Everett Howard Collison and one sister, Irene Rash Merrell; one step-son, Clayton Edwards, along with a great-granddaughter, Hunter Collison. The family wishes to thank the staff of White County Medical Center and Hospice who provided wonderful loving care during the last month of Ray's life. In lieu of flowers, because Dad loved the outdoors, memorials may be made to the Shady Grove Cemetery Fund, Reagina Goodin, Treasurer, 49 Bald Knob Lake Road, Bald Knob, Ark. 72010. Visitation is Saturday, August 3 from 1-2:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home in Bald Knob, followed by a graveside service at 3 p.m. at the Shady Grove Memorial Pavilion. Arrangements by Powell Funeral Home, Bald Knob-Judsonia. wwwpowellfuneralhome.net.