A memorial service for Raymond Hershell "Ray" Wise, 61 of Waskom will be held at 4 p.m., Friday April 8, 2016 in the chapel of Downs Funeral Home. Raymond passed away suddenly after a lengthy battle with heart disease and related complications at his home in Waskom.

Raymond Hershell "Ray" Wise was born January 24, 1955 in Minden, LA. Born to James Eugene Wise and Eleanor Jean Compton Wise, Ray was the eldest of three children. He spent his childhood years in Blanchard, LA where he grew up next door to his lifelong friend, Britt "Bubba" Meek in a time where cars were without seatbelts and kids roamed the neighborhood streets without worry. Around age 12, Ray learned to play the guitar, a hobby that provided pleasure and an outlet throughout his life. He enjoyed playing tunes from the likes of the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne, Neil Young and Gram Parsons( a personal favorite) to name a few. Ray even penned a few lines of his own during long trips in his "big truck".

Not only did he write a couple of songs, he was published in the editorial section of the Shreveport Times on numerous occasions, exchanging banter with fellow political enthusiasts. He couldn't pass up an opportunity to discuss his viewpoints with you, and even in disagreement, he enjoyed the discourse. Ray even passed up a college degree in Political Science for the open road and that "big truck". He used to say that he was a "professional" and had driven "more miles backward than you have forward". During time away from home, he always thought of his wife and children, writing love letters and bringing souvenirs from his adventures around the country. He knew all the highways and could tell you how to get anywhere, better than a GPS.

In his last few years of his life, Ray became a very active billiard player, participating in many tournaments and was even team captain to the aptly named "Wise Guys", a title he didn't choose but secretly loved, I'm sure. He made many close friends during his regular Monday and Wednesday night games, and even felt up to playing the night before he passed, a blessing in disguise. Ray would happily run a tournament if you asked, and had no problem volunteering his time for a benefit or to help move something. He didn't let his heart disease hold him down!

Ray will live on in the hearts of those who knew him and to know him was to love him, screwball humor and all. He was a thinker, a lover, a comedian, a Yankees fan, a musician, and a committed father and husband. He was a man like any other, not without faults, but with character, brains and heart. He had a t-shirt he like to wear, featuring Curly in a classic John Lennon pose that read, " You may say I'm a Stooge, but I'm not the only one." Mom hated when he wore that shirt in public, but a stooge he was!

He is survived by his wife of nearly 30 years, whom he loved "first", Brenda Bolton Wise; two children, Rachel and Ben and "man's best friend(s)", Pearl and Booger. Also surviving Ray are his sister, Ann Wise Beasley and brother-in-law, Barry, as well as nephews, Brad and Cole; great uncle, Jerry Compton and wife Becky and family; cousin, Jerry Wise and wife Betty and family; sister-in-law, Jo Stone and family; childhood friend, Britt "Bubba" Meek and wife Brenda and numerous extended family members and friends. He was a well-loved man, and you knew that you had in him, a friend for life.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, James and Jean Wise; his baby brother, Ronnie; his aunts, Edith, Hazel and Mary, as well as both his maternal and paternal grandparents, in-laws and others.

There is simply no way to capture the many facets of the man my father was in these few words. You could always count on him to make you laugh, and oh, the memories he made! We will remember him as he would want a heck of a pool player, a friend, a father, a husband, a brother, an uncle, and a smart aleck to boot.

We would like to say thank you for the tremendous love and support we have been shown during the darkest days of our lives. He would be proud to know he was important to you. We ask that you not take a single moment for granted. Hug your loved ones, and don't miss a chance to say, "I love you." WE LOVE YOU, and sometimes tomorrow never comes.

We are accepting donations to assist with expenses and bills. You may make a donation at any branch of Citizens National Bank of Texas under the account name "Funeral Expenses for Ray Wise" (#1081685821). In lieu of flowers, Ray would be proud of any donations made to St. Jude Children's Hospital (in memory of his brother) or Shriner's, the latter of which treated Ray as a child.