Jim Woodson

James (Jim) Dean Woodson at the age of 82, passed away on Friday, November 9 ^th in Russellville. He was born February 3, 1936 at Ola, AR.  He was the son of Mildred Manning and James Keever Watson and William E. Woodson.

He was a lifelong resident of Yell County and graduated from Plainview High School. He was an Army and National Guard Veteran. He was a registered land surveyor, former Dardanelle Alderman for 8 years, a member of the Yell County Quorum Court District 7 for 10 years (2003-2012) and a member of Salem Methodist Church of Plainview.

Over the years he worked in the construction industry as a surveyor, construction supervisor and inspector for numerous companies. He worked for the Arkansas Highway & Transportation Department and Arkansas River Navigation Project where he was the supervisor & surveyor for the Dardanelle bridge that was built between 1967 – 1970. He also supervised work on the Little Rock, Russellville, Hot Springs and Fort Smith airports. He was an inspector for Garver & Garver Engineer Consultants for 27 years and retired from Grimes Engineers in 1998. After retirement, he was always willing to help a friend or neighbor in need and share vegetables from his garden. He enjoyed gospel music, sports of any kind, coaching little league baseball, going to garage sales, cutting wood, being a loyal friend, tinkering with antique cars and anything with a motor. He especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He had many nicknames that included: Big Jim, Big Daddy, Pops and Woody.

He is survived by a wife of 60 years, Johnnie Faye (Spears) Woodson and by three children, Ronald Woodson of Spring, TX, Rhonda Van of Dardanelle and Regina Norman (Eddie Coffman) of Russellville. He had two grandchildren, Brandon Woodson of Spring, TX and Taylor (David) Shaw of Russellville, three great-grandchildren Kaiden, Karston, and Kaison Shaw, a sister, Willda Jean Wyatt of Milpitas, CA along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Shane Devin Woodson, a mother-in-law, Leona "Murra" Spears, stepfather James Watson, a brother-in-law Oscar Wyatt and two nephews Michael and Matthew Wyatt.

Pallbears include: John Watson, Don Pelt, Earl Mott, Mitch Emberson, Rick Wood, Kenneth Crawford, John Gordon Boles, Toby Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers include: Tommy Kinslow, Junior Haney, Benny Robinson, Jim Heflin and J.L. Martin.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 13 ^th at Cornwell Chapel in Dardanelle with Bro. David Bishop and Bro. Jared Higginbotham officiating. Visitation will be held 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., Monday, November 12th at Cornwell Chapel. Burial will follow at Brearley Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Circle of Friends benefiting Arkansas Children's Hospital (Attn: Karen Hokhold) , P.O. Box 3010, Russellville, AR 72811 or Dardanelle First Freewill Baptist Church, 1470 Highway 22 West, Dardanelle, AR 72834.

Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www. Cornwellfuneralhomes.com