Wilburn Ray "Shorty" Little

Memorial services for Wilburn Ray “Shorty” Little, 77, of Shreveport, Louisiana will be held Saturday, December 12, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Nathan Tucker of Fort Worth, Texas officiating. Interment will follow in the Fielder Memorial Cemetery. Wilburn Ray Little passed away Friday, December 4, 2015 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born June 25, 1938 to parents Birtha (Nickerson) and Byron E. Little. Ray was known as “Shorty” throughout his lifetime, being given that moniker by his older brother George as a toddler. Shorty was born in the Homer Community of Angelina County, Texas but grew up in the Central Community, and graduated from Central ISD. Growing up, Shorty loved to play all sports, especially baseball, although most remember him for basketball. During his senior year of high school he was All Tournament, All Star Basketball Player on the Texas State Championship Team of 1956. He was very proud of being a part of this team and the lifetime of friendships he made during those school years. After graduation Shorty married O’Shan Carter, the mother of his two children Debra O’Shan and Steven Ray. He and O’Shan have remained lifelong friends. Ray spent his career working in the paper industry throughout Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana. The last 20 years of his career, he was the Senior Process manager at the International Paper Mill in Mansfield, Louisiana. Ray wanted to thank all the people he worked with and said, “He could not have made it without their help”. He also wanted to specifically thank all the coworkers and friends who gave him support during his time of being disabled and in chronic severe pain for many years. In particular, he and the family would like to thank longtime friend Luci Anderson, who has been of tremendous support and aid these last few years. Shorty was a member of Broadmoore Baptist Church. He loved to attend church, he loved the Lord, and loved his family. In his free time Ray loved to spend time fishing with family and friends. He always enjoyed fishing on the area lakes and rivers for crappie and bass. Shorty’s favorite vacations were trips he made to Alaska to visit his daughter and son-in-law. He loved fishing for halibut out of Homer in Kachemak Bay and world class king salmon fishing on the Kenai River. His biggest “fish story” he had was the 109 pound halibut he caught in 1989. Ray is survived by his son, Steven Ray Little and wife Larissa; daughter, Debra O’Shan Little Bonzo and husband Kenneth; grandsons, Jacob Bonzo and wife Ashley, Jordan Bonzo and fiancée Jena Croxton, David Little, and Luke Little; great-grandsons, Logan Bonzo and Gabriel Bonzo; and many close nieces and nephews in Colorado and Texas that he loved very much. He was preceded in death by his parents, Byron and Birtha Little; brothers, George Little and Charles Little; and sisters, Dortha Little Stevens and Willie B. Little Hughes. In lieu of flowers, Ray requested memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38148-0142, or online at www.stjude.org. The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday evening at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com. Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.