Ray Distretti

Ray Joe Distretti, 89, of Paragould, died Monday, August 22, 2011, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center. He was born September 19, 1921, in Memphis, TN the son of the late Giovanni Battista and Maria Beltrami Distretti. Ray was a truck patch farmer before moving his family from Memphis in 1956. He made his first crop of grain in Greene County in 1957 starting with 240 acres. Ray was a founding member of the Italian Market at age 19 in Memphis. He was a member of the Greene County Tech School Board 1969-74, Craighead Electric Coop Director 1975-84, Director and Vice Chairman Federal Land Bank Association for 22 years from 1967-89, He and his family were farm family of the year in 1966, President of Greene County Farm Bureau Board, member of the Stanford Coop Board. He was also preceded in death by his wife Florence Mozella Gatlin Distretti, 6 sisters and 5 brothers. He was a member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church. He is survived by his son: Johnny (Jannie) Distretti of Paragould; daughter: Sandy "Ikey" Distretti and husband, Gordon Meyer of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; grand daughters: Ashley and Casey Distretti and great-grandson: Jaren Ray Wooley, all of Paragould, as well as several nieces and nephews and a multitude of family and friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, at Heath Funeral Home. His life will be celebrated at Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 10:30 AM, Thursday with Revs. Raymond Atwood and Kenneth Overton officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 3231 highway 141 South, Paragould, AR 72450. To sign online registry, go to www.heathfuneralhome.com.