Willene Mae McDuffee Bray, 93, of Mount Pleasant, Arkansas passed away September 11, 2025 at White River Medical Center in Batesville, Arkansas.

Willene was born on June 28, 1932, in Bethesda, Arkansas to William "Bill" and Leora (Manion) McDuffee, along with her twin sister Lorene. She was a graduate of Cushman High School where she was very involved in athletics and various clubs. In 1949 she was selected Miss Cushman High School.

On March 31, 1951, she married Reed "Slick" Bray and together they raised their family in Mount Pleasant, Arkansas. Up until the time she rejoined Slick in Heaven, she was very devoted and involved in the Mount Pleasant community. She was a member of Barren Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church where she taught Sunday School and did the children's message during church services.

She started her career as a secretary at Mount Pleasant School for many years. Willene was a woman of many firsts. In 1973 she ran for the office of Izard County Treasurer and became the first elected female official in Izard County. In 1978, she helped bring an ambulance service to Izard County and she became an EMT and served on Izard County's EMS Board. In 1979, when Jack Yancey was elected Izard County Sheriff, she began her many years in law enforcement. She served as an Office Manager, Dispatcher, Jailer, and became the first female deputy for Izard County. When the North Central Unit – Arkansas Department of Corrections opened in Calico Rock, Arkansas, she was instrumental in setting up the inmate records for that facility. She returned to the Sheriff's Office and worked alongside Donnie Joe Yancey during his term as Izard County Sheriff. When that term ended, she returned to her beloved Mount Pleasant School, where she later retired.

Willene is survived by her children: Becky (Steve) Johnson of Mount Pleasant, Joey (Sheila) Bray of Cabot/Mount Pleasant, Lori (Eddy) Loggains of Violet Hill. Her grandchildren: Jody (Stephanie) Bray of Cabot, Jennifer (Clayton) White of Melbourne, Nikki (Kenny) Holder of Conway, Will (Georgia) Loggains of Conway, Alex (Cara) Bray of Cabot, and Matt Loggains of Violet Hill. Her great-grandchildren: Paisley, Lilah Mae, Case, Hudson, Harrison, Reed, Beckett, Nolan and Lennon. She also leaves her faithful companion of 18 years, Pebbles. Her living sisters- and brothers-in-law are Betty Jo, Jo Anna, Beth, D.R., Roy and Jimmy. Willene had many, many nephews and nieces that she loved so much, as well as hundreds of friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her siblings Lorene, Charlene, Dalphna, Ann, Luke and W.J.

Pallbearers are Jack Yancey, Mike Cone, Connie Johnson, Kerry Caraway, Gary Morrison, Jerad Hicks, Mark Ottervanger and Kody Caraway.

Honorary Pallbearers: Izard County Sheriff's Office, Grandsons and Nephews.

Visitation will be held Sunday afternoon, September 14, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Eddie's Family Funeral Home in Melbourne, Arkansas (79 Ballpark Road), with the services on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Barren Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant (782 Barren Fork Road), with burial at the Barren Fork Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Barren Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church.