James Davis Edwards

James Davis (Jim) Edwards passed away peacefully in Little Rock on June 9th, 2023. He had been in poor health for a while, but the cause of death looks to be dementia complications due to Covid. However, it is rumored to be exhaustion from decades of giving friends and family members and friends “Marching Orders” with nobody listening. After all, giving “instructions” is the Edwards way…it’s a genetic thing.

This is an obituary for a great man, husband, father, grandfather and overall a really great dude. Perpetually sarcastic and always looking for the funny side of stories. He leaves behind a loving wife of 66 years, Martha Ann, whom he was the ever-present sidekick always wanting to accompany her everywhere…much to her chagrin at times. Daughter Kim Kyle (Forrest – deceased), son Bob (Margaret), Granddaughters Abby and Molly Edwards and Grandson Yancey Kyle (Brandy), and Great-Granddaughter Tallis Kyle. He also leaves tons of extended family members and lots of great friends across the country. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Ena Edwards and both sisters, Charlotte Edwards and Marilyn Bell (Charles).

Jim had a perpetual lack of patience and was quoted many, many times explaining how things work around him. Specifically, The Right Way, The Wrong Way and Jim’s Way. Those were the rules in our house…except when Martha Ann spoke, then the game changed…as expected.

His passion other than deer hunting was cooking…with smoking meat being primary. Over the years, he acquired many grilles and smokers, both free standing and trailer mounted that his team, THE BAD ASS BARBEQUE COMPANY, used to win several regional competitions and created some great friendships over the years. Bottom line was Jim was a tremendous cook and loved to cook FOR people. A GREAT day for him was dragging his smoker or fish frying rig somewhere and cooking for a group of people. He left behind a lot of stuff that Martha Ann, Kim and Bob are not quite sure what to do with as he loved collecting cookbooks, gadgets of all sorts and recipes in general. He was a true “gadget man” with a tool for each and everything anyone could remotely imagine needing (and not needing as well).

He was a veteran of the US Air Force and the Korean War. He graduated from Hope High School in Hope Arkansas, received a bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University and multiple master’s degrees from Henderson State University. He was an Adjunct Professor in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for a time as well.

He was a natural born salesman who could “massage” the facts based on his desired outcome. He successfully ran his own sales company for almost 40 years before retiring, where he designed playgrounds and park facilities covering Arkansas and Louisiana. He, Kim and Bob worked together for around 20 years. While in the recreation business, he achieved the first National Playground Safety Inspector certification in Arkansas and Louisiana and also developed a monthly Playground Safety Newsletter that was distributed nationwide. Prior to that, he held positions of distinction including the Founding Director of Parks and Recreation in Richardson TX, Arkansas Director of Outdoor Recreation and as the Director of Feasibility Studies for a company called Midwest Research Institute. Side Note: Jim did the initial marketing and feasibility study for the Steamboat Springs CO ski resort prior to it being built.

He was an 50+ year active member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Little Rock and Open Door Sunday School Class.

HE WILL BE MISSED BY ANYONE WHO KNEW HIM…IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, HE REQUESTED THAT ANY AND ALL REMEMBERANCES BE IN THE FORM OF DONATIONS TO HIS CHURCH, TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

ONLINE: https://app.easytithe.com/app/Giving/tumclr

BY MAIL: Trinity United Methodist Church – 1101 N. Mississippi St – Little Rock, AR – 72207

Visitation will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, June 17, followed by a Celebration of his Life at 2:00 pm at Smith Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Court, Little Rock.  Online guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com.