Jack Ray England

Jack Ray England passed away at his home in Rison on Sunday, November 2, 2014 . He was 93 years old, born on September 28, 1921, near the banks of Derrieusseaux Creek in Cleveland County. He was the son of Bert and Nellie Mae Ray England. He was the grandson of Israel and Mary Raney Ray, from Indiana, and William and Elizabeth Trucks England of Kedron. His beloved wife of 67 years was Betty Sadler who passed away April 13, 2013. Jack was a 1939 graduate of Rison High School where he lettered for the Rison Wildcat football team, leading the team to many victories as quarterback. He attended Arkansas A & M College (now University of Arkansas at Monticello) where he joined the National Guard. Jack was a World War II veteran, serving in the 206th Coast Artillery, Battery B, in the Aleutian Islands at the beginning of the war. It was here he fought in the Battle of Dutch Harbor. Later he became a pilot and flight officer serving in the 312th Bombardment Group, 389th Squadron, 5th Air Force, in the Pacific Theater. He was stationed in Clark Field in the Philippines. He flew B-25 and A-20 Havoc aircraft. He was honorably discharged in December of 1945 (with several medals) having served for nearly five years in the war. Jack's early career ventures included tomato and cotton farming, hauling services, a florist business, and hog and cattle raising. He entered the poultry business with his first poultry house, built in 1955 where he raised his first crops of turkeys and chickens. He then expanded his business into a broiler grow-out operation serving Cleveland and surrounding counties. Later he owned a poultry processing plant in Pine Bluff. In the early 1970s he became a broker for chickens and then for hatching eggs. The companies he and his wife, Betty, established and owned are England Feed and Equipment Co., Diamond Lakes Poultry, Inc., England Packing Co., Inc., England Transport Co., Inc., England Farms, Inc., and England Timberlands, Inc. He was a member of the Arkansas Poultry Federation since the society's inception, a member of the US Poultry and Egg Association for 25 years, and a member of the Ralston Purina Company Chairman's Honor Council and Chow Honor Council. A pioneer in the poultry business, Jack received numerous awards for his innovation and influence in the poultry industry. He became known worldwide for his defining work in the brokerage hatching egg business, establishing markets in at least 17 foreign countries in addition to his broad domestic base. In January 2013 he was inducted into the American Poultry Hall of Fame at the International Poultry Exposition in Atlanta. That same year he was inducted into the Arkansas Agricultural Hall of Fame. In 1989 he was awarded the prestigious President's "E" Award by George H.W. Bush and the US Department of Commerce for his exportation of hatching eggs worldwide. Jack had a deep interest in the history of all parts of the world. He was an avid reader, a skilled card player, unbeatable at pool, and he loved the woods and his timber land. He also loved many genres of music. He followed the stock market and was always interested in current events. He also enjoyed travel, especially with his family. He had visited every continent except Antarctica. Jack also gave back to his community by serving on the local Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts of America and the Boards for Little League Baseball and Peewee Football. He was also Worshipful Master of the Culpepper Masonic Lodge No. 186 and a 32nd degree mason. He was a Sunday School Superintendent of the Rison United Methodist Church, and he was Chairman of the Building Committee for the new Rison United Methodist Church in 1971. Jack was a faithful member of the church until his death. He is preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Betty Sadler England; his parents, Bert and Nellie Mae England; four sisters, Edna Rane England, Bertie Mae England Lunaas, Mildred (Mick) England Morrison, and Maureen (Monk) England Wilson; a son-in-law Donald Wayne Martin. He is survived by three children Pamela Martin, Terri Lindquester (and Gary), and Jack Ray (Jay) England, Jr. (and Shari). He has nine grandchildren, four great grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and eight step-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving caregivers and dear friends Willie Mae Jones, Patricia Brandon, Dora Rauls, Lewis Releford, Felicia McCleod, and Dorothy Thomas. Pallbearers for Jack England are his grandsons: Jack Ray England, III, Eric England Lindquester, Will Sadler Lindquester, and Michael Craig Robinson; son-in-law Gary Lindquester and grandson-in-law Jackson Randall. Honorary pallbearers are Don White, James Brown, Lewis Releford, Ed Montgomery, John Blanchard, Bob Moellers, Mark Rogers, Gijs Schimmel, David Reed and Richard Day. Funeral Services are 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 6, 2014, at Rison United Methodist Church with Reverend Ike Mohr officiating. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at Buie Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Rison United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 468, Rison, AR, 71665. Arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home of Rison. (870) 325-6216. Online condolences at www.buiefuneralhome.com.