Ronald Lee Underwood

RONALD LEE UNDERWOOD, 82, a long-time resident of Little Rock, passed away Aug. 17, 2018. He was born in Paragould, Ark., Oct. 14, 1935, the only child of Lyle and Eloise Searcy Underwood. He was a member of the last graduating class of Little Rock High School in 1953 and one of Wilson's Tigers. After graduation he attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and played football for the Arkansas Razorbacks 1954-1956 and received the Crip Hall award in 1957. He was inducted into the U of A Sports Hall of Honor in 2002. He was a member of the Razorback Letterman's Club and a member of St. James United Methodist Church. He worked as a sales rep for May Supply Company and Pella Windows. He began his football officiating career in junior high and high school football before moving to the Southwest and Big 12 Conferences. After retirement in 2000, he briefly scouted promising officials for the NFL. Survivors are his wife of 58 years, Joyce Morgan Underwood, daughter Leigh Moravec (Ed), and son Jeff Underwood (Cynthia). He was "Big Ron" to granddaughter Erin Moravec and grandson James Underwood. He is also survived by brothers-in-law John (Peggy) Morgan, Paul (Jan) Morgan, and sisters-in-law Frances Bone, Dee Ann Morgan and Pati (Bob) Guess. He was predeceased by his parents, Lyle and Eloise Underwood, father- and mother-in-law Robert and Dovie Morgan, and brothers-in-law Dan Morgan and Charles "Mac" Bone. Visitation will be at 10:30 a.m. with funeral at 11:30 a.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, on Tuesday, Aug. 21st. Burial will be at Forest Hills Memorial Park in Alexander. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock or the Buddy Coleman Field at Little Rock Central High School. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock, Ark. 72205, (501) 224-2200. Ronald's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.