1942
Donald Ray
2018
Donald Ray Benson
November 1, 1942 — May 6, 2018
Donald Ray Benson, 75, of Maynard, passed away Sunday, May 6, 2018, at his residence.
Born in Iola, Kansas, Donald lived many years in Jonesboro before moving to Maynard in 2005. Early in his professional career, Donald worked for Rainbow Bakery in Emporia and Wichita, Kansas. He has been a Sonic Restaurant owner for more than 40 years and operated several Sonic Restaurants in Arkansas and Missouri. He served many years on the Sonic Franchisee Advisory Council and was a Christian.
Donald also operated a cattle ranch in Maynard and enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald P. Benson, a son, Douglas Lee Benson and his brother, Randy Benson.
Survivors include his wife, Lila Benson of the home;
his mother, Wilma Benson Fields of Maynard;
1 son and daughter-in-law: Dallas and Kelly Benson of Jonesboro;
2 daughters and sons-in-law: Karen and Brad Erney, and Laura and Lance Smith, all of Jonesboro;
1 sister, Sharon Parkman of Emporia, Kansas;
4 grandchildren: Kyle and Jennifer Priest of Little Rock, and William Davidson, Troy Davidson and Whitlee Smith, all of Jonesboro; and
3 great grandchildren: Silas, Lillian and Elijah Priest, all of Little Rock.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Emerson Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday in Emerson Memorial Chapel with John Sawyer, Jr. and Wayne Heidelberg officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery.
Active pallbearers include William Davidson, Troy Davidson, Kyle Priest, Lance Smith, Brad Erney and Drew Benson. Honorary pallbearers include members of the Sonic Family.
For lasting memorials, the family asks that consideration be given to St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or Arkansas Childrens Hospital, P.O. Box 2222, Little Rock, AR 72203.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Ray Benson, please visit our flower store.
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