Ray D. Young

Ray D. Young, 88, of Alma, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025, at a local hospital. Ray served as a Deacon of First Baptist Church of Alma and a retired cotton oil and soybean processor, a career that took him across the Midwest and the South.

Born March 29, 1937, in Van Buren, Arkansas, to the late J.N. and Oma Alice (White) Young, Ray was lovingly raised by his paternal grandparents until their passing during his teenage years.

Ray was preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Mary (White) Young; his parents; two sons, Ricky Allen Young and Kenneth Ray Young; his sisters, Willma Mounce, Irma Lamb, Norma Rogers; his brothers, JW Young, Paul Young, Arlis Young, Roy Young, Sammy Young, Joe Young, Olen Young; and his special friend, Letha Wells.

Ray is survived by his daughter Reba Pontbriand (Jerry) of Leeds, Alabama, daughter-in-law, Betty Young of Braselton, Georgia; grandchildren, Jerry Glen Pontbriand Jr. (Loraine), Stephen Young (Lisa), Kristin Rosevear (Brian), Shannon Purvis (Loren), and 6 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at First Baptist Church of Alma, with interment at Gill Cemetery in Van Buren. The family will visit with friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Wednesday at Ocker Funeral Home of Alma.

Pallbearers will be David Atwell, Doyal Atwell, John Young, Steven Joe Young, Matthew Langley, and Ricky White. Honorary pallbearers include Bob Pitts, Tom Leverette, Kerry Brown, and John David Maxwell. Pastor Brent Williams and J.D. Finley will officiate the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Alma Building Fund.