Posted on 09/03/2015 4:38:13 AM PDT by DCBryan1
Jim Bryan III, 75, of Longboat Key, FL, died Sep. 1, 2015 at Arkansas Hospice from complications of pancreatic cancer. He was born in Harrison, AR in 1940 to the late J.W. and Jane Bryan of Bellefonte, AR. He was preceded in death by his son Joey (who died of a brain tumor in 1981 at age ten) and grandparents Witt and Zula Burns Bryan and Noah and Myrtle Eoff Dearing. He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years, Ann, son Jim, IV and his wife Ann, son Chris and his wife Jennifer, grandchildren Laura and her newlywed husband Russ, Ethan and Pam, all of Pulaski County, AR. He is also survived by his brother John and his wife Deborah of Tulsa, OK, and uncle Joe of Bellefonte, AR.
Jim was raised on a farm in southern Boone County raising poultry, showing cattle, and harvesting apples. He was a standout athlete at Valley Springs, still ranking among the state’s top all-time scorers in high school basketball with 2,792 points 1955-58, coached by Sid Ragland and his novel up-tempo style. He played one season under Coach Sam Hindsman at Arkansas Tech in 1959-60 before transferring to Henderson State Teachers College and lettering in 1961-62 under Coach Morton Hutto (who most importantly introduced Jim to Ann). He was inducted as a Golden Reddie in 2012. An economics major, he also attended graduate school at the University of Arkansas. After completing ROTC he was commissioned in the U.S. Army, serving in the armor battalion at Camp Roberts, CA and tasked with testing the prototype M60A1 medium tank with the U.S. Army's Combat Developments Command Experimentation Center (CDEC), 4th Medium Tank Battalion, 73rd Armor.
The family moved to North Little Rock in 1967 and after meeting with Henderson schoolmate Jim Hunter, Jim entered his career in investment banking with Delta Securities. That career spanned 47 years working for and leading a number of firms until his retirement from Crews & Associates in April of this year. Son Chris assisted him over the past 15 years. His work territory was west central Florida. He developed close personal friendships with his banking clients.
His passion in the 1970s was tournament bass fishing, with notable finishes in Mr. Bass of Arkansas and BASS. Fishing expeditions took him from Canada to Honduras, Cuba and Mexico. His investment firms gave him the special opportunity to compete in tournament softball as player, manager and sponsor. He was a 1999 inductee of the Arkansas Softball Hall of Fame. He and Ann followed the basketball Razorbacks to many holiday and SWC/SEC tournaments. He maintained exquisite records of the state’s high school basketball history and was a constant campaigner for Wonder Boy and Reddie inductees into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
The family wishes to express its gratitude to the caregivers at First Choice Senior Services, the staff of Arkansas Hospice and Pastoral Care at St. James UMC.
Visitation will be held at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth on Thursday, Sept. 3 from 6-8 PM. Funeral service will be Friday, Sept. 4 at 11:00AM. A private burial will follow at Rest Hills. Memorials may be made to St. James United Methodist Church, Lakewood United Methodist Church, and the American Brain Tumor Association.
Praying for your father and your family that God may give you strength through this difficult time.
Condolences to you and your family on the loss of your father. May he rest in peace.
I’m very sorry. Prayers for your Dad and all his loved ones and friends.
It seems that we lost a very good man. You will see him again one day.
so sorry for your loss, I will pray for your dear dad and for your family.
Prayers up for the soul of your departed Dad and for the rest of the Family and friends as well!
Prayers for your mom, your brother and you and your families as you mourn the life of your beloved dad, who led a wonderful life.
So sorry! My prayers for your dad’s soul and your family
Sorry to hear this Bryan.Eternal rest Jim and prayers for family and Friends.((((Hugs))))Fatima
Prayers for your family. And this post is for your dad.
Lord Jesus Christ, rest the soul of Thy servant Jim with the saints and the angels.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, amen.
Prayers.
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