Billy Ray James

Billy Ray James, age 49, passed peacefully in the arms of his wife and two sons on August 22, 2021 at Baptist Health Medical Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He was born on September 28, 1971 in Little Rock, Arkansas to Donald Sidney James and Mary Sue James, the fifth of six children. Billy was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Gail (Blanchard) James, his eldest son, Gunner Ray James, and his youngest son, Levi Donald James. He also leaves behind 5 siblings, Donald E. (Kimberly) James, Patricia (Bill) Brown, Jimmy James, Teresa (Steve) Martin, and Penny (Blake) Kimble, along with innumerable nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, and uncles.

Since around age 19, Billy worked in the commercial roofing industry. He worked his way up from the lowest level general laborer to a Project Manager in the industry, and also owned and operated his own successful commercial roofing business for many years. Billy was respected and trusted, and often sought out for his extensive knowledge and experience in virtually all aspects of the industry. His colleagues always enjoyed working with him, and he made many friends because of it.

The most important things in Billy’s life were his two sons and his wife. In 2010, Billy and Gail met and began a whirlwind romance. They fell hard and fast for each other, and were married June 10, 2011, and over the years worked together to raise two sons, Gunner and Levi. Billy had always dreamed of having his own children, and his sons were his proudest achievements. His goal as a father was to raise his sons to be good, strong men who were upstanding, hardworking members of society. Billy taught his sons many things, some funny, some serious, some to help them develop life skills they’ll need as they grow up and make their own paths through life. He was a firm, but loving father. His world revolved around his wife and boys. Billy’s boys were what he was absolutely the proudest of out anything in his life, and he and Gail were soulmates, they were the loves of each others’ lives.

Billy loved hunting, fishing, and family. One of his proudest achievements was establishing a family friendly deer camp with other family and friends he loved, and that’s where he, Gail, Gunner and Levi could be found every chance they could get. He loved it there, loved everything that came with hunting, and especially enjoyed teaching his wife and sons everything he knew about hunting. Some of the memories he cherished the most were from times at deer camp, and that was where he had wanted himself and Gail to retire to some day, and then eventually to leave as a legacy to his two sons.

Billy was an animal lover, just like his own father. He could charm any animal, regardless of its disposition, and he never met an animal he didn’t like. He had several very special pets over the years that he loved dearly, some like his own children before he had his sons. That was a special connection he shared with his own father, and he instilled that same love for animals into his own family. Billy saved countless animals and gave so many a wonderful, loving home. His animals, all of which he considered pets, brought him immeasurable joy over the years.

Billy was always the life of the party, the clown, the fun uncle. He was always good for a laugh, and never took himself too seriously. He loved to make people smile, to tell a joke, often a crude one that he learned from his own father. So many people knew him as ‘Uncle Billy’, from actual family members to good friends. Anyone who knew him has at least one outrageous and funny story about Billy. He was just like a magnet, pulling others to him with his larger than life personality. He will be missed by so, so many, and will leave a void that can never be filled.