of Marion, AR

June 25, 1932 - October 21, 2025

William Rayburn Chambliss passed away October 21, 2025, at Willowbend Nursing Home in Marion, AR, at the age of 93. He was born on June 25, 1932, in Calhoun County, AR, the first son of Ray and Mable Lorine Evans Chambliss. He attended school and grew up in Bearden, AR. In 1951 he joined the United States Navy and was assigned to the Heavy Cruiser USS Bremerton during the Korean War and served his country for four years during which his ship was hit seven times. After the war, he was stationed at Millington Naval Base in Millington, TN.

Hitchhiking one day in Marion, AR, he met the love of his life, Mary Catheryn Simpson, after being picked up by her father and taken to their house. Rayburn and Mary married and lived first in West Memphis and then Marion, AR. They were married for 68 years before her passing on September 11, 2023. They never had children but loved to help with all the little nieces and nephews!

He worked as an ironworker for 33 years and was a member of Ironworker's Local Union l67 in Memphis for 66 years. He was a good mechanic and an avid hunter with trophy deer heads gracing the walls in his home. Fishing was also something he was very good at, with trophies to prove it! He also loved to go to stock car races or watch racing on television on Sunday afternoons.

Ray, as Mary called him, was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Jimmy Wayne Chambliss, Maurice Chambliss and Almeth Ray (Dickie) Chambliss, one half brother: Julius LaBeff, three sisters: Eloise Rowland, Linda Nutt, and Elizabeth King: two nephews, Johnny Mack Chambliss and Jason Chambliss.

He is survived by one brother: Mackie Chambliss (Freda) of Southaven, MS; one brother-in-law, Kenneth King of Bearden, AR: and a host of nieces and nephews: Barbara Kay Perry, Kenny Roy Rowland, Debbie Jones, Kerry King, Frankie Chambliss, Robin Herron, Jimmy Chambliss, Stacy Bryson, John Chambliss, Teresa Livingston, Mark Chambliss, Chris Chambliss, Nicole Wright, Steve Chambliss, Connie Castleberry and Sonya Bean.

Services will be at Angel's Way Baptist Church in Marion, AR, Saturday, October 25. Visitation will be at 1:00 and service at 2:00.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to Kay and Albert (brother-in-law) Simpson for the love and care the extended to Rayburn during his two years at Willowbend Nursing Home and also to the staff at Willowbend Nursing Home.

 

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