Willis Ray Smith
Feb 5th, 1945 - May 16th, 2020- Birth Date: Feb 5, 1945
- Death Date: May 16, 2020
- Location: Pinecrest Memorial Park Cemetery
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Biography: Willis Ray Smith, 75, of Little Rock arrived in the loving hands of the Lord on May 16, 2020.
He is survived by his spouse, Elaine Barlow Smith, who brought him much happiness during the last 20 years of his life and who lovingly cared for him during his battle with cancer. He is also survived by sons Scott Thomas Smith and Chad Houston Smith, daughter-in-law Melissa Chrisco Smith, grandchildren Anna Louise Smith and Henry Houston Smith, nephews Johnny Herring, Robert Herring and David Herring, nieces Erika Allen Anderson and Alexee Allen Saunders and other family Alta May Myers, Linda Myers Pfeifer, Debbie Harp, DiAnna and Bruce Maxwell, Jan Insinga, Hubert and Karen Barlow, Laurie Ann and Pat Williams, Chistina and Johnny Pexton.
He was predeceased by his parents Garner Holcomb Smith and Bernice Houston Smith, siblings Houston Garner Smith and Barbara Smith Herring, and other family Thomas Benjamin Myers and the mother of his children Martha Myers Smith.
He graduated from Little Rock Central High School in 1963 and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1968 with a degree in Marketing. He joined Sigma Nu Fraternity and served as the president 2 times.
After college Willis managed the men’s clothing department at MM Cohn’s before finding his true passion, real estate. He earned his real estate broker's license in 1966 and became real estate appraiser in 1970. He was responsible for starting the first Appraisal Department in Arkansas for First Federal Savings and Loan. In 1976 he started Willis Smith & Company and it is still a thriving company today under the leadership of his son Scott
.
Willis and Bek Kaiser started flipping houses and apartment complexes in the late 70s a partnership and friendship that has continued. Willis moved into commercial real estate development in 1984 and through the years he was part of many commercial projects across the state of Arkansas.
Willis served on the Advisory Board of Summit Bank from 2006 through 2012 and was appointed to the first Land Bank Commission and served the City of Little Rock for 7 years.
Willis also had an incredible entrepreneurial spirit becoming one of the early franchisees for TCBY, Backyard Burgers and even starting car washes across Little Rock.
Willis was a great businessman but an even better father, grandfather, husband and friend. He had one of the biggest and caring hearts you will ever find. He would greet everyone with big hugs and make you feel welcome immediately. He loved his grandchildren and they were the light of his life and so were his wife, sons and dog, WR.
He would start most mornings at local breakfast place with his breakfast crew talking and laughing. If you were lucky enough to be there, you would have heard his voice and infectious laugh when you walked in. He enjoyed spending time collecting a little bit of everything through years and spending time in his yards and garden.
Willis was active member of the St James United Methodist church for over 40 years and was a regular at the Saturday night service until his illness.
A private family ceremony will be held at Pinecrest Cemetery on Tuesday, May 19, 2020. The family is planning to have a celebration of Willis’s life once the pandemic has passed.
Special thanks to Dr. Hope Uronis at Duke Cancer Institute, Rhonda Gentry at CARTI and their teams for their amazing support over the past 16 months.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Duke Cancer Institute, 300 W. Morgan Street, Suite 1200, Durham, NC 27701 or CARTI, 8901 CARTI Way, Little Rock, AR 72205 or Care for Animals, Inc., 5516 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, AR, 72207
Prayers to the family
Willis was a special man . Elaine we are so sorry . We will miss him dearly .
Truly, one of the good guys!!!
With our deepest sympathy,
Ruthie and Alan Holland