James F. "Jim" Setter

1919 - 2016

James "Jim" Frank Setter, 96, of Fayetteville, Ark., passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2016. Jim was born on Oct. 12, 1919, to Christopher B. Setter and Bertha M. Miller in Richmond, Kan. Oh what a life he led! From the wheat fields of Kansas to the mountains of Alaska, Jim was always interested in the grand adventure of life. Jim, at the age of 22, joined the Navy and served aboard the USS Fletcher in the South Pacific during World War II. Jim found his passion in the Navy and made a career working with thermal power (steam). When the war ended, Jim made his way to Alaska, to begin a job on Elmendorf Air Force Base Power Plant. Jim managed the base utilities systems for more than 27 years, and played a key role in getting heat and power back online quickly after a magnitude 9.2 earthquake devastated many parts of Alaska in 1964. Jim retired and moved his family to Fayetteville in 1975. He purchased a 10-acre farm where he enjoyed raising cattle, growing tomatoes and a huge garden. After a few years of farming, Jim had an opportunity to work as the Washington County Elections Commissioner, running the county elections, which he did for more than seven years. Jim loved the outdoors and living in Alaska. He enjoyed fishing for salmon and camping. He was known to pull over along the highway and climb a hill simply for the pleasure of the view from the top. He was a lifelong member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, progressing to the rank of Exalted Ruler. Jim was a member of the Fayetteville Noon Lions, and during the holidays could always be found selling Christmas trees. In 1949, Jim met his kindred adventurous spirit, Charlotte Ross, and they were married in January 1950. Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Charlotte Setter; one son, Ross Setter (Teresa); two daughters, Patricia Nelson (Steve) and Karen Percival; eight grandchildren, Shawn Burke (Tina), Zacarey Nelson (Teisha Simmons), Ryan Burkevich (Rachel Culp), Emilie Nelson (Greg Conway), Jenna Degerlund (Micah), Matthew Percival, Luke Nelson (Kelsey) and Savannah Setter; and five great-grandchildren, Tassy Nelson, Julian, Elliott and Nolan Burke, Henrietta Culp and Kayden Nelson. Burial with military honors will be held at the Fayetteville National Cemetery on Monday, June 27, 2016, at 1 p.m. Memorials can be made to the United States Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 123, Washington, DC 20004-2608. Jim was many, many things in his life: older brother to five siblings, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, devoted dog lover/owner; nothing made Jim happier than a dog and a grandchild going for a ride in his pickup truck. He had a strong aversion to boys wearing their hair long, and offered to pay for his son, sons-in-law and grandsons haircuts whenever he felt they were getting a bit shaggy. He was great with technology, surprising one of his granddaughters with a Facebook friend invitation several years after celebrating his 90th birthday. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.