Billy Ray Tooke

Billy Ray Tooke, age 62, of Mount Ida, Arkansas passed away on October 14, 2014 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Mr. Tooke was born in Warren, Arkansas on October 18, 1951, a son to the late Clem Tooke and Ruby Roberts Tooke. He attended First Baptist Church of Royal, Arkansas and was a member of the White Sulphur Masonic Lodge #122. Mr. Tooke was a retiree of the Cotton Belt Railroad. He will mostly be remembered for his contagious smile that he shared with everybody and his personality which was larger than life itself; he never did meet a stranger. In addition to his parents, Mr. Tooke is preceded in death by one son-in-law, Jack Ashcraft. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marilyn Sweeney Tooke of Mount Ida; three daughters, Shona Stroud of Sheridan, Stacy King and her husband Robby of Searcy, and Wendy Schmidt and her husband Phil of Conway; one son, Aaron Tooke and his wife Katherine of Conway; two half-brothers, Bobby Lewis of Rison and Dickey Lewis of Houston, Texas; five grandchildren, Jacy Anderson and her husband Tyler, Tyler Ashcraft, Blake Stroud, Morgan Stroud and Jaxson Tooke; and two great grandchildren, Carson Anderson and Barrett Anderson. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, October 18, 2014 in the Buie Funeral Home chapel with Reverend Wayman Mann officiating. A Masonic service will follow immediately. Graveside services are 3:00 p.m., in Outlaw Cemetery, near Sumpter, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, October 17, 2014 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations be made to White Sulphur Masonic Lodge #122. Pallbearers are David Johnson, Fred Phillips, Shaun Smith, Alex Pudinas, Ryan McKenna, Jeremiah Sekavec and Adam Nolan. Arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home of Rison. 870-325-6216. Please sign guestbook at www.buiefuneralhome.com.