Raymond Lowell Book, 75, of Piggott died Thursday, Aug. 11, 2005, in the St. Bernards Regional Medical Center in Jonesboro.

He was born July 8, 1930, near Carryville, the son of the late Rev. C.R. and Mary McCormick Book.

He was united in marriage to Jean Lee Wright on April 29. They had three children. On Jan. 14, 1961, he was united in marriage to June Ella Goodman. They had two children. She preceded him in death in 1975. On July 8, 1977, he was united in marriage to Alice Maxine Hutchison Hill.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Adell Hess, Ruth Book and Amie Book; and four brothers, Homer, Dee, Elbert and Amos Book.

He committed his life to Christ and surrendered to the call to the ministry as a teen. He attended Oakland City College in Indiana and served as pastor to churches in Arkansas, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan. He also served as song director in several churches and sang with his family in several gospel quartets. He was a member of the Piggott First United Methodist Church. He worked as a carpenter for more than 14 years. He was also employed in school maintenance in Michigan and worked for the City of Piggott Street Department.

He is survived by his wife, Maxine Book of Piggott; five children, Randy Book and wife, Jeanette, of Pollard, Sandi Book Carden Hall and husband, David, of Youngsville, N.C., Stephen Book Carden and wife, Betty, of Navarre, Fla., Mark A. Book and wife, Gayla, of Piggott and Michael Book and wife, Theresa, of Piggott; Maxine's children, Lynda Daub and husband, Harry, of Jacksonville, Fla., Donna Sutton and husband, Keith, of Little Rock, Steve Hill and wife, Penny, and David Hill, all of Piggott; one brother, Otis Book and wife, Betty, of Piggott; two sisters, Mary Doyle of Poplar Bluff and Ota Mae Brendle and husband, Huel, of Warren, Mich.; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Crews of Piggott and Emma Book of Lake Orion, Mich.; 13 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, in the First United Methodist Church in Piggott with Rev. Charles Cooper officiating. Burial followed in the Mitchell Cemetery in Greenway. Pallbearers were Don Doyle, David Gregory, Clifford Book, Ronnie Dunlap, James Hill and Jim Richardson.

Hoggard and Sons Funeral Home of Piggott was in charge of the arrangements.