Ray Edward Kuykendall

June 29, 2016 marked the passing of a remarkable man.Ray Edward "Buddy" Kuykendall, 62, was surrounded by his family when he died in the early morning hours at TriStar Centennial Medical Center after a difficult battle with brain cancer. Visitation will be held Friday from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at First Family Baptist Church, 2790 Pulaski Hwy. Funeral services will be conducted 10:00 A.M. Saturday at First Family Baptist Church with Reverend Mike Dawson, Mike Delk, and David Henson officiating. A private burial will follow. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements.The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 1864, Columbia, TN 38402 or the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.Ray was born in Columbia on July 30, 1953. He graduated from Columbia Central High School before serving in the Tennessee Army National Guard from 1971 to 1977, when he was honorably discharged as a sergeant. Ray was a dedicated man and hard worker who spent 15 years employed at Monsanto before working as a Farm Bureau claims adjuster for 28 years, retiring last December. He was a dedicated follower of Christ and attended First Family Baptist Church. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his family and playing with his children and grandchildren, teaching them how to bait a hook and ride a horse. Always happy outdoors, Ray was an experienced horseman who loved taking long trail rides with his wife. A well-known member of the community, he never went anywhere without seeing someone who knew and respected him.Ray's generous heart and bright smile brought joy to all who met him. He was preceded in death by his father, Ray Eugene Kuykendall, his sister Ruth, and his grandparents, Harvey Kuykendall, Alice Haynes Kuykendall Bell, Tom Bell, Evan Foster, Flora Foster Martin and Eugene Martin. Those left to grieve him include his wife, Linda Jones Kuykendall; mother, Bettye Foster Kuykendall; children, Steven (Mamie) Kuykendall, and Beth Kuykendall (John Carson); grandchildren, Kaylee, Natalie, Kasen and Bryson; step-children, Andrea (Andy) Handschug and Trevor Scott; sisters, Martha Sue (Ken) Hayes, and Bettye Ann (Cesar) Mazuelos; and many other relatives and friends.The family wishes to extend special thanks to the doctors and staff at TriStar Centennial Medical Center and the Sarah Cannon Cancer Center for their special care.