Sonny Ray Williams

Sonny Ray Williams of Hot Springs departed this earthly life on 20 April 2026 with one last peaceful breath. He was 96.

He was predeceased by his parents, Georgia and Buster Williams (Electra, TX); his siblings: sister Wilma Williams, DeCourse & wife Ima Joyce Williams (Dallas,TX), brother David & wife Yvonne Williams (Midland, TX), sister Mary Ann & husband Virgil (Brooks, GA); his beloved nieces, Judy Francis (Marietta, GA) and LeAnn Tingle (Santa Rosa Beach, FL); and his wife, Shirley Ann Hensley Williams of Hot Springs.

He is survived by his son, John and wife Jolene Williams; his granddaughter, Emily & husband, Matthew Haggard; and his great-grandchild, Baby Haggard, who is due in October, all of Hot Springs. He is also survived by his daughter, Berit & husband, Paul Kimrey; grandson, Cole & and wife, Lily Kimrey; and his grandson, David Kimrey, (girlfriend, Alana McGhee). He is also survived by his beloved dog, Champ, and a host of special nieces and nephews across the country whom he loved dearly.

Known as Uncle Ray by his family, he was born in No Man's Land, Texas, on March 10, 1930 during the Depression. Later, his family moved to Electra, an oil boom town and oil pump capital of Texas. He took up riding horses at a very young age and became a thoroughbred jockey, racing from 1948 to 1956.

Following his illustrious career as a jockey, he officiated at thoroughbred races around the country until he settled in Hot Springs in 1973. Uncle Ray was known for always keeping spare change in his bureau drawer (he hated carrying coins as they weighed him down) for his nieces and nephews to spend at the Electra soda fountain. He was instrumental in helping his siblings purchase their first homes.

After he retired, he ran a horse camp for his great-nieces during the summers. He was featured in the Electra centenary book Electra 100, published in 2007, as one of Electra's most famous residents.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Grace at Home health care- Keicha is an incredible woman who provided great comfort to him. The unbelievable staff at both the LR and NLR VA are exceptional individuals who love their jobs. We should all be so lucky as to have such amazing people caring for our veterans. To the ladies of the 6E hospice- thank you for loving him as if he were your own.

Per his wishes, he will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered on his beloved farm.

A celebration of life ceremony is planned for May. He requested that donations be made to Heifer Project International, your favorite hospice, or a veterans' organization.