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Submitted: 8/23/22 • Approved: 8/26/22 • Last Updated: 6/30/23 • R1444336-G0-S3
November 7, 1966 - January 3, 2015
James “Jim” Reese, 48 of El Dorado passed away after a courageous battle with cancer on January 3, 2015 in Little Rock.
He was born in Schenectady, New York on November 7, 1966 to Theodore Reese and Suzanne VanValkenburgh Reese.
Jim spent a career in the forestry industry. He was the regional forester for F & W forestry locally in Arkansas. He was a forestry technician and manager for New Hampshire, New York, Maine, Oregon, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma. He was a member of the Forestry Association and received the Society of American Foresters Award of merit in 1989. He was the recipient of the Phi Theta Kapa Honor Society Warren Bennet Memorial Award S.U.N.Y.E.S.F. He was a member of the Forestry Association and received the Society of American Foresters Award of merit in 1995. He was a member of BPOE Elks 1763 of Wolcott, NY, and an Eagle Scout, 1984, Red Creek, NY. He gave many hours of volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America, El Dorado for many years.
Jim was of Christian faith and he and Cathy attended St. Marks United Methodist Church as well as Knowles Baptist Church. Jim was the epitome of an outdoors man in every sense of the word aside from his profession. He loved hunting, fishing fresh water and deepwater trips with his buddies, great boot camp workouts with Jimmy Massey and members from Healthworks prior to his illness. Jim enjoyed summertime grilling and cookouts with his family and friends with the occasional must have crawfish boils and bonfires with his buddy and honorary brother Tim Curry. Jim loved a great heated political debate and every chance he got to attend a city hall meeting he was surely going to try and attend. He was the most tirelessly loving and devoted husband and “Dad”. Jim had a motto that will live on “make it easy on yourself” that was the true reflection of the man Jim Reese was! Those who knew him or met him will surely never forget him. Jim loved Jesus dearly and never questioned why me? But why not me? His courage, tenacity and humbleness of his illness inspired so many. His presence here among us will be greatly missed forever.
Jim is preceded in death by his mother Suzanne VanValkenburgh Reese.
He is survived by his loving, tireless, care giver and wife; Cathy Reese, son; Eric Stephan,all united as one by their blessed union May 19, 2007, his father; Theodore Reese (Janet) of Red Creek, NY, brother; Robert Reese (Kristin) of Red Creek, NY., mother in law; Della Ballard of Strong, Ar., brother in laws; Richard Ballard (Sandy) of Strong, Ar., Aaron Ballard (Tomi) of Watford City, N.D, Joseph Ballard (Leanne) of Riverside, TX., Morgan Ballard of Strong Ar.,Howard Wayne Ballard of Strong, Ar.,sister in laws; Saundra Norris of El Dorado, Ar. and Elizabeth Acton of Eubank, KY., nephews; Benjamin Reese (Danielle) of Red Creek, NY., Devin Reese (Ashley Mills) of Williamson, NY., Trentin Reese of Red Creek , NY and several nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins and loving furbabies Cinders, Bud, Zoie, Zsa Zsa and Sadie.
Memorial and celebration of Jim’s life will be at 10:30 a.m. on March 28, 2015 at American Legion Post # 10 in El Dorado with Pastors Winston Roden, Tommy Nash and Mike Proctor officiating. The family will have a private interment at Centerpoint Cemetery at a later date. Arrangements was entrusted to Perry’s Funeral Chapels. Online registry is available at www.perrysfuneralchapels.com.
The family would like to give a special thanks to his final care givers at Baptist Rehab Institute and UAMS doctors and nursing staff.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Union County Animal Shelter or Arkansas Children’s Hospital for Log a Load for Kids
Contributed on 8/23/22 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1444336