William N Raney

William "Bill" Nuel Raney, 80, passed away on August 19, 2024, in Little Rock, AR. Born on November 22, 1943, in Fordyce, AR, Bill was a cherished son, brother, friend, veteran, husband, father, and grandfather.

Bill graduated from Arlington High in Arlington, TX, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Illinois State University. He furthered his education with a Master’s in Gerontology and obtained an RN licensure from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. His commitment to lifelong learning paralleled his diverse career, beginning in sales with Southwestern Bell and AT&T, transitioning to nursing where he excelled in cardiac care at Baptist Hospital, and ultimately finding his calling at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in North Little Rock as a mental health nurse. Here, he was integral to the suicide prevention team and formed a lasting friendship with colleague Tony Diblasi.

Serving in the Air Force from 1964 to 1968, Bill held his military experience in high regard, often reflecting on the discipline and camaraderie it fostered.

Bill's personality was marked by his quick wit and his propensity to bring laughter to any room. Above all, he cherished his roles within his family, proudly sharing stories of his loved ones at every opportunity.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda; daughters, Jennifer (Joe) Buck and Jodi (Chad) Holladay; grandchildren, Sarah (Victor) Buck, Hannah (Luke) Lindsley, Jack (Emily) Buck, Michael Buck, Rachel Buck, Will Holladay, and Brock Buck. He was preceded in death by his parents; James T. “Buck” Raney and Helen Von Gloff: in-laws: Ralph Marvin and Myrtle Irene Roth; and son: Jeffrey William Raney.

Bill's life and legacy will be honored in a ceremony on August 26, 2024. Visitation will be held noon-2:00, service will be held at 2:00 at Pinecrest Memorial Funeral Home (Alexander, AR) and burial will follow at Forest Hills Cemetery (Alexander, AR).

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, Tunnels to Towers Foundation, and/or Ronald McDonald House.