J i mmy Carthal Burgess was born February 9, 1940 in Beebe, Arkansas the son of the late Vergia Williams Burgess Arnold and the late Chester Rexie Burgess. He stepped into glory March 11, 2024 at his home in Sheridan surrounded by his family.

He was predeceased by his parents, a stepfather, Abner Arnold, his son-in-law, Sam Kelley, a brother, Rex Burgess, and his uncles, Richard, Elmer and Donald Williams who to him were more like brothers than uncles.

He is survived by his wife, Carol Susan Johnson Burgess of the home, a son Larry Burgess, two daughters Leanna (Steve) Veazey and Laura Kelley all of Sheridan; two sisters, Diane Vallejo of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Patricia Moore of North Little Rock, Arkansas; sister-n-law Myla Forbes of Oroville, California; grandchildren Tasha (Jeremy) Pascarella of Texarkana, Arkansas, Steven L (Felecia) Veazey of East End, Arkansas, Timothy (Ashley) Burgess and Ryan Burgess of Sheridan, Alliye (Aaron) House of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Madison (Wyatt Tourtillotte) Duke of Hensley, Arkansas and Dalton (Breanna) Harp of Sheridan; great grandchildren Gabriel Brown, Savannah (Dylan) Hamilton, Taylor and Brooklyn Pascarella, Kaden, MyKenna, and Jensen Veazey, Ashton, Addi, and Lylah House, Addley Duke, Evan and Parker Tourtillotte, Bentley Harp, and soon to be born Charli Burgess and Hudson Harp, great great grandchild Haven Hamilton, nieces and nephews and several cousins.

Jimmy was an avid sportsman, photographer, carpenter, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a retired FAA employee, but most of all he was a devoted, loving son, husband, father, and grandfather, great grandfather and brother. He entered the Air Force the day after he turned 18 and served 9 years. His first duty station was Shemya Air Force Base, Alaska Aleutian Islands. After serving there he was stationed at Beale Air Force Base, Marysville, California where he met the love of his life, Carol Johnson, whom he wed September 2, 1961 in Marysville. After his time of service in the Air Force he worked briefly for Hallmark and then soon after entered into the Federal Aviation Administration as a Pilot Weather Briefer advancing to Air Traffic Controller. He retired from the FAA in 1993 after serving 25 years. In 1971 his FAA career moved him back to Arkansas and soon after started his business as a self-employed photographer. He photographed countless family portraits, weddings, and sports pictures for people all over Grant County and Arkansas, but his first love was photographing nature and his own family.

Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman. He hunted with rifle and bow, everything from turkey, pheasant and quail to squirrel, deer, and moose to even shooting a charging Alaskan Brown Bear. He enjoyed fly fishing, and bass fishing the most but if it swam and you could eat it, he'd have his hook in the water trying to catch it.

Also, a master carpenter/craftsman, Jim designed and built numerous pieces of furniture of which with he filled his family's home that he also built. He designed and built all the cabinetry in their home as well as those of many clients, family and friends. One of his favorite bits of advice was to "Measure twice, cut once".

He enjoyed coaching youth baseball and softball and spent many years serving as the Sheridan Softball Association director.

He loved telling stories of his childhood, his time in the service and his hunting adventures. He shared many of those in his book "Under the Acorn Tree". He never met a stranger he didn't have a tale or two to share with. He was dad jokes before dad jokes were cool.

He gave his children many memories of summer vacations at the lake and traveling across county sightseeing.

Our Daddy walked a straight and narrow path and left a godly legacy for his children and grandchildren.

Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Friday, March 15, 2024 at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home with visitation prior to the service from 1:00 until service time. Burial will follow at Ephesus Cemetery near Sheridan.

A very special thank you to a dear friend, Denise Holiman, Baptist Hospice Nurse for her big heart and kind and caring compassion she showed our loved one as he transitioned to his forever home.

Memorials may be made to Baptist Hospice, 11001 Executive Center Dr., Little Rock, AR  72211