William French Huey, 61, of Camden, Arkansas passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife on January 15, 2024 at 3:33am after a courageous battle with esophageal cancer. He was born on January 4, 1963 in Warren, Arkansas to the late Attorney Thomas Clinton Huey and Martha Harriet McKnight Huey. A graduate of Warren High School in 1981. He attended the University of Arkansas where he was a proud member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He also attended Texas Aero Tech where he received his AirFrame and PowerPlant Certification. Bill began working for Lockheed Martin in 2003 as an Aeronautical Inspector for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the F-22 Raptor and later the F-35 Lightning ll at the Fort Worth plant. He then advanced to a Quality Control Analyst Senior and spent time in Japan and Italy on various projects. In 2022, Bill transferred from Lockheed Martin Aeronautical Fort Worth to Lockheed Martin Missile and Fire Control (MFC) Camden, Arkansas. Shortly after his transfer to this new role in Camden, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Bill was married to Kim Teague Huey from 1991-2014 and they have a son together, Hayden French Huey of Richardson, Texas. Hayden is married to the former Grace Jarrel and they have two children, Anna Grace and Jack French Huey.
Bill and Angela Huey, the love of his life, reunited in 2013 and were married in 2018. Angi has 2 children, Joshua Michael Sheehan and Michaela Petra Lagway both of Fort Worth, Texas. One of the bright lights in Bill’s life is Michaela’s daughter, which he had a part in naming, Remington Jae Lagway. She thinks her Papa hung the moon. Their favorite times together were spent at the park, in the swimming pool or at The Camp riding the quad.
Bill is also survived by his loving sisters and one brother. Mary Catherine Armstrong (Rusty) of Little Rock, Arkansas, Martha Ann Sloan (Steven) of Vero Beach, Florida, Frances Allen (Wes) of McDonough, Georgia, Liz Brazeel of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Thom Huey (Mary) of Little Rock, Arkansas. Also a brother-in-law, Danny Brazeel of Little Rock, Arkansas and a sister-in-law Suzanne Foucar of Escondido, California. Nine nieces and nephews and 11 great nieces and nephews.
Bill’s lifelong mission was to share the best of life with others. He could not wait to share his passions, stories, experiences, delicious food, and laughter with whoever crossed his path. Whether he was on a ball field in Dallas, Texas, the market in Italy, or at his special sanctuary, The Camp, his charismatic soul possessed a unique gift for making lifelong connections with people from all walks of life. His open-hearted nature, warmth and approachability created a magnetic charm that drew others towards him, and he had a knack for finding the goodness in everyone he met. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy, but I have come to give you life, and life to the full.” Bill lived this life to the full, no doubt.
Bill spent his life embracing the beauty of nature and the thrill of the hunt at The Camp. Whether he was enjoying the stillness of life in a deer blind in the woods or casting a line into the Saline River, the outdoors and The Camp held a special place in his heart.
If you knew Bill, you knew The Camp. It is a place that welcomes friends as family, a place where you are set up to be present and the simple things of life can be appreciated, a place where lifelong experiences and memories are made, a place where the joys of life unfold in their purest form. Bill longed to share these things with his friends and family, and at The Camp he had a large part in creating this perfect environment in the perfect place. His legacy lives on past the boundaries of the land.
Bill was a master in the kitchen, transforming the spoils of his outdoor adventures and supermarket specials into delicious feasts. His kitchen was a place of creativity, where he shared his love for cooking with as many as he could. The aroma of his smoked pork butts and fried deer steaks will forever linger in the memories of those fortunate enough to savor his culinary creations.
Bill possessed an optimist faith that was the foundation of his fight with cancer. He wrote Romans 8:28 on his heart, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” and took action towards what good he could do during his fight. He met this calling by using his platform to encourage people to consider the love that Jesus extends to us, no matter our current condition. Even in his final breaths, he managed to leave us with this,
“My story is….trust in God and He will lead you”.
Visitation with the family will be January 20, 2024 at 10am with a service to follow at 11am at First United Methodist Church, 121 Harrison Street, Camden, Arkansas 71701
