Ray Gregory Waggoner

Ray Gregory Waggoner, 58, of Batesville passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020. He went to join the Lord while resting peacefully. He is now pain-free and no longer suffering from congestive heart failure, liver failure, and diabetes. Philippians 3:21 reminds us that Christ, "by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body". Greg was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on August 18th, 1961 to Joseph George Waggoner, Jr. and Charlotte Kinsey Waggoner. Greg served 3.5 years in the Navy as a Dental Technician. After leaving the Navy, he spent time as a carpenter building homes. He was adventurous for a bit and spent time working on an offshore oil rig. He spent several years working as a solicitor raising money for various charities. He also built and repaired computers. For fun, Greg enjoyed playing the guitar and loved any form of wood-working. He hand crafted guitars and also furniture. He was affectionately referred to as, "Guitar Greg" by his friends. Greg was a devoted fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He hard a huge heart for animals, was an excellent chess player, and had exceptional intellectual ability. Greg is survived by his father, Joe Waggoner and step-mother, Doris, of Cherokee Village; mother, Charlotte Waggoner, of Batesville; son, Matthew and Lana Starnes, of Tuckerman (grandchildren Lyric and Chanson), daughters, Erica Cowger, of Topeka, Kansas (grandchildren Henry and Callen), and April Mealler, of Clarksville (grandchildren Bryson, Taelyn and Rylee); sister, Angie and David Coleman, of Frisco, Texas (nephews Joshua and Andrew); brother, Glenn and Vicky Waggoner, of Batesville (nephew Joey and Brittany Waggoner, great-nephews Austin, Braxton, Eli, and Noah, and 8 beautiful nieces). Father Amal of Cherokee Village said a Mass for Greg on July 15th and also one on July 16th, 2020. A private graveside service was held at 2:00, Thursday, July 16th, 2020 in the Kyler Cemetery. Photos will be uploaded so that friends and family can attend online in a virtual manner. ***Greg has always been musically inclined from a very young age. Playing the guitar, drums, and keyboard was a way for him to express himself and connect with others. Music was a way to clear his head, heal his heart, and lift his spirits. On Monday, July 13 th, 2020 - life was interrupted. The shrill ring of death overcame the melody of life. Death makes us wonder if we will ever get back in tune or feel the music once again. But we need to realize that God is the master musician. He can take the discord of death and turn it into life. That's what resurrection is all about. Jesus walked out of the tomb, showing us that even death doesn't stop the music. The song goes on, perhaps a bit differently - more improvised and subtly beautiful - but it goes on. The death of someone can make us want to give up - or it can be an opportunity to improvise and find new ways to celebrate life amid tragedy. No matter how hurtful, how tragic, how unfair or how out of tune we might feel, God can alter the theme of life within us and turn it into something beautiful. God's direction for us today is to follow his lead, to improvise, to start something new. Music never dies. And because of God's promise of the Resurrection, neither do the people we care about… 1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation. (Psalm 95:1)