Virgil Ray Wilson, affectionately known as Ray, age 82, of De Queen, Arkansas departed from this life on Sunday, May 19th, 2024 at home surrounded by his daughter and son-in-law.

Ray was born Tuesday, July 22nd, 1941 in Dallas, Texas to Raymond and Lorraine Wilson. He graduated high school in 1959 from Paul Pewitt High in Omaha, Texas. He was a Vietnam veteran and served in the United States Army from April 1964 to April 1966. Ray was a member of De Queen First Assembly and faithfully attended and participated in church functions until he wasn't able to anymore.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his great niece Hadley Bree Baldwin, his sister Marjorie Delese, and his precious wife of 41 years, Sandi Wilson.

He is survived by his son Jason Jones, wife Jennifer of Springdale, Arkansas and three beloved grandchildren who called him "Papa Ray": Jenna and Jacob Jones, and Jaxon Conley also of Springdale; daughter Leah Hanson, husband Patrick of De Queen, Arkansas; beloved fur-grandbabies: Tigger, Daisy, Snowflake, Astrid, Diana, and Brownie; niece Sharon Fletcher and her life partner Kevin Underwood of Dallas, Texas; nephew Russell Fletcher and wife Heather of Fate, Texas; niece Mistye Roche, husband Jim and their son Jake of Plano, Texas; niece Suzan Mullins, husband Rodney and their children Callie and Samuel Kincaid of Gun Barrell, Texas, and Lincoln Mullins of Fort Worth, Texas; sister Jonell (Wilson) Pegues of Arlington, affectionately known as Jolly; niece Shelley (Pegues) Baldwin, husband Jeff of Silver Hill, Alabama and their children Crue Baldwin, also of Silver Hill, and Chandley (Baldwin) Carter and husband Sye of Saraland, Alabama; niece Mandy (Pegues) Stubbs, husband Matt of Arlington, Texas; niece Rachel (Pegues) Vidaurri, husband Travis and their children Rivers and Lucas of Arlington, Texas and Elijah of Bedford, Texas; nephew Vernon Roy Pegues Jr., wife Emily and their children Heidi and Hannah of Fort Worth, Texas; brother Twant (PeeWee) Wilson and wife Deb of Dekalb, Texas; niece Marci Wilson and her children Kade, Reese, and Tucker Clinton of Redwater, Texas; niece Annette (Wilson) Weaver, husband Jason and their daughter Amelia of The Colony, Texas.

Though they are related by love and not blood, he is also survived by his beloved wife's sister Alison (Hurst) Brown, husband Bobby of Greenbrier; niece Ashlee (Edwards) Bowden, husband Ryan and their children, Pearson Massey and Nicole, Zachary, and Oliver Bowden of Mayflower, Arkansas; among many other extended family and friends.

Funeral Services for Mr. Ray Wilson be held at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, May 25, 2024, in the De Queen First Assembly of God with Pastor Ray Reynolds and Ryan Bowden officiating.  Burial will follow in the Sweet Home Cemetery, De Queen, Arkansas.  Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2024 in the Chandler Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Arrangements are entrusted to Chandler Funeral Home, De Queen.  You may send an online condolence message at www.chandlerfuneral.com.