Nick "Nickey Ray" Avants

Nick R. (Nickey Ray) Avants, 82, of Little Rock, AR, passed from this life into the arms of his Savior on September 4th , 2025.

He was born January 29, 1943, in Little Rock, AR to J.C. & Blanche (Wood) Avants. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Shelba J. Avants. He is also survived by 5 children; Howard (Anna) Crosby of Tulsa, OK; Rachael Crosby (Phil Roe) of Pontiac, MO, Michael Crosby, Jr. of Little Rock, AR, Nikki (Brenda ) Bittle of Batesville, AR and Chad (Kelly) Avants of Little Rock, AR. Nick leaves 10 grandchildren; Trey (Jamie) Allison, Bailey (Justin) Hutcheson, Michael B. (Katie) Crosby III, Miller (Taylor) Crosby, Haydon Page, Mason, Avants, Cleo Avants, Amber Hardin, Lyndsey Hardin & Jesse Hardin; and 9 great-grandchildren: Bryah Jackson, Logan Smith, Emma Jo Smith, Sadie Archer, Ellie Hardin, Justin Allison, Brody Atkinson, Spencer Hutcheson, Noah Crosby and Michael B. Crosby, IV.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J.C. Avants & Blanche Avants, brother J.C. (Buddy) Avants, and his sisters Bettye Avants McMinn and Bobbye Avants Cazort Kenney.

Nick graduated from Hall High School in Little Rock, where he had an outstanding athletic career. He was a 3-year letterman in football, where was All-Conference, All- Southern, and the first football All-American from Hall High School. As a sophomore in Track and Field, he set the State record in the Shot-Put division, which held up for several years. He won the State Track Meet and Meet of Champions several times in the Shot-Put and Discus events.

Nick went on to the University of Oklahoma on a baseball scholarship for 2 years but was injured and came home to enroll in UALR. In 1964, he entered Professional Baseball as an Umpire. He worked for eight years, splitting the 1970 & 1971 seasons between AAA baseball, the American Association, and Major Leage Baseball-The American League. Just before the 1972 Season, Nick retired to return to Little Rock to spend more time with his family and the family business, Natonal Termite & Pest Control Company. Nick wanted to continue his involvement in athletics and became a basketball and football official, which he did for 17 years finishing in the college ranks in 1988.

During the first game of the season at Oklahoma State University, he suffered a knee injury and had to retire from officiating. In 1976, His friend Bill Valentine, who he knew from is Professional Baseball umpiring days, became the GM of the Arkansas Travelers Baseball club in Little Rock. Nick agreed to help Bill on game night for that year to get everything set up and working well. That one season stretched into 22 years of being the Assistant Manager at Ray Winder Field with his friend Bill Valentine.

Nick took over National Termite & Pest Control company in 1972 and operated the family business until 1997 when he became involved in the home building industry. Following multiple health challenges and surgeries from his officiating career, he retired from Central Arkansas Foundation Homes, LLC in 2009. In his retirement years, Nick worked at Sam’s Club in Little Rock and both Bryant and Little Rock Wal-Mart stores as a door greeter, where he had a smile and a song for everyone. Nick loved giving his testimony to co-workers and customers alike and did so up until 2023.

Nick spent the last few years in an assisted living facility making new friends and spending time out with his old friends The ROMEOs. This group of men have been friends for over 70 years and knew each other from Lamar Porter Field baseball days and Elementary school days. The family wishes to acknowledge what a blessing these men were to him in his last days and thank them for all they have done.

The family will announce a memorial service to be held at a later date conducted by Reverend Ron McCormick. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas Autism Foundation, 11610 Pleasant Ridge Rd., Little Rock, AR 72223.