Doug Wayland

WALNUT RIDGE - Douglas (Doug) Lynn Wayland, 84, of Walnut Ridge, passed from this life on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at his residence surrounded by his family. He was born March 6, 1941, in the Remmel Community near Newport to the late J.C. and Ola (Koettel) Wayland. He was united in marriage to Shelby Mock on June 1, 1961, in Jonesboro.

Doug was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge. Doug and Shelby resided in Longview, Texas, during the 1960s, where he worked as a bricklayer with his brother, Marcus, before returning home to operate the family farm with his father. After retiring from farming, he was a car salesman, bricklayer, and truck driver. He was active in Little League and peewee, and coached softball with Keith and Stacy as children, and enjoyed driving his 1931 Ford A model in local Christmas parades with the kids in the rumble seat. He was a fifty-year member of Farm Bureau, serving as president during his younger life. He was also a member of the quorum court and had the lifetime ability to serve as Justice of the Peace. Doug was a gun enthusiast, loved fried bologna and fried potatoes, and was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks and St. Louis Cardinals fan. In 1997, he had the opportunity to attend President Bill Clinton's second inauguration. Doug and Shelby raised their granddaughters, Ashlyn and Kortney from the ages of one and two.

In addition to his parents, Doug was preceded in death by his wife, Shelby, his son, Keith Wayland, and his brother, Marcus Wayland; and many other family members and friends.

Doug is survived by his daughter, Stacy Rice (Rickey) of Walnut Ridge; siblings Mary Boozer of Walnut Ridge, Billie Cooper of Bartlett, Tenn., Brenda Burris (Ricky), and Dyan Heard (Ted) both of Walnut Ridge; grandchildren Nick Rice (Madison), Ashlyn Wayland, Chloe Rice (Chase), and Kortney Wayland (Zane); great-grandchildren Keith Greyson, Zayn, Lye, Khoushee, Kaisai, Chandler, and William Douglas; and a host of other family members and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 15, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Walnut Ridge, with funeral services immediately following at 1 p.m. Jeremy Hopper will officiate. Interment will follow in the Masonic Cemetery in Pocahontas under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Nick Rice, Hunter Burris, Justin Mock, Chase Parker, Randy Golden, and Charles Petty.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Seb Spades, Jerry Cox, Bill Whitlow, Ray Moseley, and Mike Henson.