William J. "Bill" Tusing

William James “Bill” Tusing, 66, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, July 22, 2011, at the Memphis VA Medical Center after a hard fought battle with cancer.

Bill was born August 7, 1944, in Marysville, Kansas, to William and Marie Ruetti Tusing. He lived in Denver before moving to Jonesboro in 1985. Bill was vice president of investments for A.G. Edward and Smith Barney Investments for several years and was voted “Best Under the Sun” stockbroker in 2004. He was of the Presbyterian faith.

Bill earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmund and a Master of Arts degree in political science from Oklahoma State University. He was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society and a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War.

Bill was a past member of University Rotary Club where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He married Barbara Tyrer October 17, 1975. Bill possessed both a famous sense of humor and joke telling ability to compliment his superior intellect.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Tyrer Tusing of the home;

2 sons and daughters-in-law: Derek and Margaret Lawrence of Denver, and Matt and Lisa Tusing of Jonesboro;

2 daughters and son-in-law: Lisa and Mike Bowler of Cincinnati, and Katy Cabe of Stillwater, Oklahoma;

9 grandchildren, Shannon, Monica, Michelle, Ryan, Charles, Jazmyn, Aidan, Daltyn and Caroline; 2 great grandchildren, Peyton and Ava; 5 nieces and 4 nephews.

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 11:00 in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Bruce Tippit officiating. Burial will follow in Jonesboro Memorial Park.

Active pallbearers include Mike Bowler, Ryan McCullough, Aidan Lawrence, Jerald Spencer, Gerald Elsner, Dean Tyrer and Scott Denlinger. Honorary pallbearers include Jim Fulkerson, Jackie Baugh and John Goldsmith.

Visitation will be held Saturday morning from 10:00 until 11:00 in Emerson Chapel.

For lasting memorials, please consider the Matt Ellis Memorial Foundation, c/o Jim and Jan Ellis, 1805 Carolyn Dr., Jonesboro, AR 72404.