James V. "Jim" Bray

James Vaughn "Jim" Bray, age 93, of Malvern, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017 in Hot Springs. He was born in Lewisville, Ark., on Sept. 12, 1923 to the late William Francis Bray and Lillie Armour Bray. Reared and educated in Lewisville, he was a United States Navy veteran of World War II, serving in both the Pacific and Atlantic Theatres. Jim was aboard an LST on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and went ashore on Orange Beach. Jim was retired from the Arkansas State Police, and at the time of his death, was the oldest retired Trooper in the state. He moved permanently to Malvern in the early 1960's, and was very involved in the community. Until his health began to fail, he was an active member of First United Methodist Church. He was a former member of Rotary, a member of the Rockport Masonic Lodge, where he had served as Worshipful Master, and was a Shriner. A member of the Arkansas State Police Retirees Association, Jim was a founder, charter member, and past treasurer of the Arkansas State Police Foundation. He is survived by his wife, Josephine McMillan Bray, to whom he was married on Feb. 19, 1972; three daughters, Susan Lancaster of Fayetteville, Ark., Jean Harper and her husband Paul of Malvern, and Martha Lowry and her husband John of Hot Springs; a sister, Lille Alexander of North Carolina; three grandchildren, Andrea Hassell, Leslie Smith, and Brad Smith; and eight great-grandchildren, Megan Sutterfield, Phillip Hassell, Billy Hassell, Geneva Smith, Lexa Smith, Evan Smith, Sloan Smith, and Drew Smith. Jim was also preceded in death by a son, Jimmy Bray, three brothers, Charles, Wayne, and Billy Bray, and a sister, Martha Jane Buck. His funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, Sept. 6, 2017 in the chapel of J. A Funk Funeral Home with Reverend Bruce Bennett officiating. A visitation will precede the service, beginning at 9 a.m. Graveside services with State Police Honors and Military Honors will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon at Wilson Cemetery near Lewisville, Ark. Memorials are requested to the United Methodist Children's Home. Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.