When the Heavenly Father calls a soul to rest, we must be ready to answer the call, such was the circumstances on Sunday, July 25, 2021 at 5:45pm. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend Willie McKinley Hobbs, better known to his family and friends as ‘Bill’ or ‘Papa Bill’, began his journey to a place of infinite tranquility, one without pain and anguish but of eternal rest.
Bill’s journey began on September 5, 1946 when he was born to the late Archie and Lovella Hobbs in Crocketts Bluff, Arkansas. He received his education at the Immanuel School District.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and had an undying love for family. Bill was united in holy matrimony to Ray Evelyn Pannell on October 6, 1988. They were married 32 years and 9 months until death departed them. To this union, no children were born, but together they blended ten wonderful children.
Bill had a love for spending time with family and friends. On any given day, you would find him doing what he loved most: playing spades, going to the casino with friends, or mowing yards for his customers who loved his beautiful work. He was employed at Stratton Seed Company of Stuttgart, Arkansas from February 1977 until he retired in December 2011.
On July 25, 2021, Bill drifted to a land that knows no sunset or dawning. A land that knows no suffering, no pain, no sorrow or cares. Among the great cloud of witnesses to meet him there will be aforementioned parents, one daughter Barbara Hobbs, one grandson Kenzell Hobbs, and one sister Ester Williams.
Though he is no longer with us in body, his irreplaceable presence will be deeply missed. Bill leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife Ray Evelyn Hobbs of Stuttgart, AR; six daughters Carolyn (Roosevelt) Williams of North Little Rock, AR, Pamela Hobbs and Martha Hobbs, both of Little Rock, AR, Tina Hobbs of Omaha, NE, Tawanna (David) Sims and Renae Pannell, both of Stuttgart, AR; four sons Willie (Gloria) Hobbs of Little Rock, AR, Shelby (Valerie) Thomas of Atlanta, GA, Michael Pannell of Cleveland, OH, and Roderick Pannell of Stuttgart, AR; one brother David (Shelly) Hobbs of Tulsa, OK; two bonus daughters Renee (Greg) Wiley of North Little Rock, AR and Amanda Smith of Omaha, NE; one aunt Virginia Hobbs of Stuttgart, AR; one special niece Clevie (Wilbert) Hogan of Stuttgart, AR; two brothers-in-law A.C. (Sheila) McKinney of Stuttgart, AR and Perry (Lavalli) McKinney of Tulsa, OK; two sisters-in-law Patricia Hicks of Little Rock, AR and Verlinda Jones of Stuttgart, AR; a special friend Earl White; his canine friend Rocky; and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
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