Ray Thomas "Butch" Underwood, Jr.

A visitation for Mr. Underwood will be held Thursday, April 10, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home, 601 Highway 80 East, Haughton, Louisiana 71037. Encouraging words and memories will be shared by Reverend Donnie Underwood, Jr., Pastor, First Pentecostal Church of Arcadia.

A private memorial service will be held for Butch at a later date.

Ray Thomas Underwood, Jr (Butch) was born to Ray and Helen Underwood on Dec 19, 1946, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Marjorie (Sissy) Livingston, Donnie Underwood and Marion (Monk) Anderson.

Butch is survived by siblings, Jimmie Underwood and Vicki Underwood Turnage (spouse Aubrey). Never having children of his own Butch’s many nephews and nieces were actually more like kids to him; and he loved each of them dearly and that love continued to his grand nieces and nephews as well.

In the early 1950’s, Butch, who was just a toddler, was walking with his mom and had stopped at the corner of Traffic St and Broadway. Butch was immediately drawn to the music and worship he heard coming from the windows of the First United Pentecostal Church of Bossier (L/K/A POBC). Butch would not be quieted until his mom took him into this church service. It was at these services that his Aunt Gayle, Uncle Freddie and his grandmother were saved. Later, his mother and Dad were both saved at the little church on Traffic Street. This was a preliminary introduction to a truth and a lifestyle that spread throughout the family and has produced a legacy that includes Ministers, Ministers wives, Sunday School Teachers, Church planters, Mission workers, church Musicians and Singers, Christian School Teachers and a legacy of devotion to the things of God. That same devotion now reaches to a new generation. He has great nieces and nephews involved in ministry and service.

When Butch was about 5 years old, he was given a guitar by his Grandma Woody and this instrument, 70 years later, has hardly ever been far from his side. It was most often strummed as he listened to Dottie Rambo, The Conqueror’s Quartet and maybe a touch of Elvis thrown in.

Knowing Butch meant a lifetime of laughter. We had a lively home, and nieces and nephews were sure to follow Butch through the house to watch as he played his ever- present guitar, to poke around in his hidden treasures or watch the Saturday line-up of the WWF. However, if one listened closely, you might have heard a mumble, from under his breath, “Come on, little puppy dogs.” His family was his world and the care and support they gave him proved that his love was reciprocated.

While it was fine to watch Butch play the guitar it was never wise to actually try to PLAY ‘his guitar. Just as it wasn’t such a brilliant idea for his sister, Vicki, to give him a red Arkansas Razorback Sweatshirt in lieu of his, heretofore, favorite purple and gold LSU jacket. Said Razorback Sweatshirt sat in his closet for years, unworn, until a nephew, thankfully, ‘borrowed” it. "Geaux Tigers!"

Butch, until his self-proclaimed retirement, was a tenured student at the Caddo-Bossier Association for Retarded Children (C-BARC). It was at C-BARC that we saw his shyness begin to dwindle and he

started to blossom into a social butterfly who loved attending the parties and events hosted by C-BARC staff. It was through C-BARC that Butch was awarded a Bossier Parish Citizen of the Year Award.

Butch, disabled from birth, has had a series of caregivers throughout his life, but none like his precious mother who cared for him from birth until Alzheimer’s prevented her care. It was then that Jimmie and Sissy stepped up to take care of both Butch and their mom. Butch later took a trip to Arkansas and stayed in the home of his niece Traci Chancellor where her entire family welcomed Butch into their busy, fun and music filled world. It was those trips to Home Depot with Traci’s husband, Joe Wayne (deceased), that remain a mystery. Did Butch suddenly love Home Depot? Probably not, but he loved being with Joe. A third reason the trips to Home Depot were much anticipated was perhaps it was the inevitable stop at Sonic where Joe would make sure that Butch’s order included his favorite ‘Banilla’ shake.

After suffering a stroke, Butch was moved back to his childhood home under the care of his sister Sissy until her own health waned; then her son, Ron Daugherty, and his girlfriend, Charlene Berry, faithfully and daily showered Butch with love; birthday parties, Christmas parties and patiently, or not, listened for that little bedside bell to ring, day or night.

If you were blessed to have received one of the handwritten love notes from Butch, then you received a piece of his heart. Butch taught himself to write in cursive and he learned to write only this one line, “I LOVE YOU, RAY.”

Thank you to Autumn and the entire Compassus Hospice team for the kindness and compassion shown to Butch. Thanks to all of the family and friends who took time to come into Butch’s world, the visits, phone calls, Facebook messages, those Cobb Bar B Que sandwiches. the Wendy’s and Sonic Shakes were appreciated. A special thanks to those who made the valiant effort to help in keeping Butch groomed, a wiser man might not of attempted that beard of Teflon; it wore out many a razor and many a man.

OH YEAH! I’ll Meet you in the Morning, over there!

I’ll be the one strumming the ole box guitar as my mom sings, ‘Sweet Honey in the Rock, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Oh, it tastes like Honey in the Rock, won’t you taste and see that the Lord is good, for it taste like Honey in the Rock”.

Honorary Pallbearers: Ron Daugherty, Terry Long, Morgan Underwood, Ronnie Cheatham, Aubrey Turnage, Joseph Jamal, Arron Hennigan, Terry King.

Memorials may be made to Tupelo Children’s Mansion @ One Time Donation or Donate - Tupelo Children's Mansion