Tim Ray Wilson

Tim Ray Wilson of Garfield, AR made his final cast on March 29, 2026. He was 78 years old. Born on May 28,1947 in Blackwell, OK to Lloyd and Laverne Wilson, his spent life mastering the fine art of patience, whether waiting on a bite, telling a good fishing story, or teaching others that the best things rarely come in a hurry. Tim loved to fish, and was an entrepreneur, owning several businesses in Bentonville as well as working as a consultant for sporting goods to support his fishing habit before he retired.

Tim leaves behind his fiancé Patty Duce; Sons Randy Wilson (Holly) and Rob Wilson, Sister, Cheryl Hill (Bill); Brother, Bill Wilson (Ruby); and grandsons Kaylab and Cooper Wilson, who is proudly following their Papa Tim's footsteps with their love of water and fishing.

Tim is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy (Lee) Wilson, both of his parents and his brother-in-law and best friend, Darryl Lee. We are certain each of them were waiting for him with a tackle box ready and just enough skepticism to keep his fish stories in check.

Tim had a lifelong love affair with the water, beginning with his early days of water-skiing Oklahoma lakes with his sister. It wasn't until a chance encounter in Houston that Tim realized he didn't hate fishing like he thought. He learned from one of the best tournament fishermen of all time and loved it. Tim began fishing tournaments, often winning boats that were always for sale in the front yard. Any given weekend you could find him fishing the lakes around Arkansas and Missouri, where he loved the competition of fishing tournaments, but it was about him vs. the fish. If he could figure out the right lure, color, line, pattern to get that fish in the boat, he won. His later years were spent living at their house at Beaver Lake and puttering around on the pontoon. He passionately believed that a bad day fishing still beat a good day doing anything else. He was known for his stubbornness, generosity, sense of humor, mischievousness, and was quite the country-western dancer. He was always ready to tell you how to fix your boat and offer a spare lure or rod if you needed them, but never his secret fishing holes.

If you spent time with him, chances are you learned something-whether you meant to or not.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026, at Noon, at Benton County Funeral Home, 306 N. 4th Street, Rogers, AR. The family welcomes you to join them after the service where stories, laughter, and perhaps a few exaggerated fish tales will be warmly welcomed.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to your favorite charitable organization in Tim's name. Though he's reeled in his last catch, we imagine Tim somewhere with calm waters, a perfect breeze, and a fish that's finally just the right size to match his stories. He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. Online condolences can be posted at www.bentoncountyfuneralhome.com