MARVELL Ray Cleveland Fuller, 88, of Marvell died Feb. 10, 2009, at the Helena Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.
He was born Oct. 2, 1920, in Marvell to Robert and Irene Boales Fuller. He was the youngest of five children.
In eighth grade he quit school to start working at the cotton gin. He had earned enough to start farming in 1938. He cleared ground in Holly Grove and ran the timber through his sawmill to get the money to farm the ground. He joined the Navy in 1942 where he served in the South Pacific. He married Mary Stewart in 1944 and they settled in Turner and continued farming. In 1949, daughter Cheryl was born.
He decided to "retire" and moved to Pharr, Texas, in 1958. While in Texas he farmed produce crops and commuted to continue farming his land in Arkansas. In 1960, sons Jerry and Terry were born and soon after they moved back to Arkansas to continue farming. In 1979, he bought River Farms east of Marianna, while continuing to farm the Crossroads Farm in Monroe County and several farms in between. He built Fuller Seed and Supply in 1983 to keep his twins busy working. His farming, seed business and cattle-producing legacy continue.
He loved duck hunting with his friends and family. In 1954 he bought a parcel of land adjoining Big Creek and founded the Sandy Bayou Duck Club with nine of his friends. For 55 years he was the beloved Captain of the Club.
He loved traveling with Mary and the Travel Club. They took many trips to the Caribbean, Mexico, Alaska, Branson, Hot Springs, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C.
He was on the board of directors for Farm Bureau, Marvell Academy, president of Ray Fuller Farms Inc. He served on Helena National Bank board of directors for 30 years. He was a Master Mason and a Shriner. He was a member of the American Legion and 1st Battalion of the Sea Bees. He was also a faithful member of the Marvell United Methodist Church. Most of all he loved spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, Ann Forrester, Viola Davis and Dorothy Crisp; one brother, J.W. Kirchner; and a grandson, James Ray Heuer.
Survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Stewart Fuller; daughter Cheryl Heuer and husband, Bill, of Harrison; sons Jerry Fuller and wife, Suzie, Terry Fuller and wife, Lisa, all of Poplar Grove; grandsons Tate Heuer and wife, Alison, of Washington, D.C., John Heuer and wife, Anna, of Harrison, and Kyle Fuller of Poplar Grove; granddaughters Sarah Beth Heuer Hale and husband, Clint of Poplar Grove, Katherine Fuller, Rayann Fuller and Gracie Fuller, all of Poplar Grove, and two great-grandchildren, Ashley Heuer and Braun Heuer.
Funeral services were held Feb. 13 at the Marvell United Methodist Church with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens at Barton.
Pallbearers were Tommy Scroggins, Pointer Hall Jr., Bert Davidson, Clark Hall, Tracy Griffin, Buron Griffin Jr., Joe Davidson III, Carlos Nash and Curtis Bivens. Honorary pallbearers were Doug Simmons, Charles Loeschner, Buron Griffin Sr., John Joiner, Alan Culp, Charles Sibley, Shelton Guest, Ed Wright, Jimmy Boyd, Wes Freemyer, John Robbins, Tommy Shackelford.
Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice or the Marvell United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 669, Marvell, Ark. 72366. Services directed by Roller-Citizens Funeral Home, West Helena.
