James E. Sikes, Jr.

James (Jamie) E. Sikes Jr. went home to be with his Lord and Savior at his home in Alleene, AR, surrounded by his family on December 17, 2012 after battling brain cancer for several months. Jamie was born November 24, 1936 in Alleene, AR to Estel and Thelma Sikes. He attended Ashdown High School and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a degree in Engineering. After college he worked for U.S. Steel in Birmingham, AL until he took a job working for General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Tx, as an engineer on the space program. He moved back to Alleene and went to work at Red River Army Depot in 1965. He became the CTX Supervisor for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle System. He and his team wrote the procedure manuals for tearing down and rebuilding Bradley tanks after field service. He retired in 1997 as a Supervisory Mechanical Engineer with 32 years of service at RRAD. After his retirement, he was active in the Alleene Community and involved in a number of volunteer projects. He was also a Mason, and served as Master of the Lodge in Foreman, AR, for many years. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Harold Sikes; sister, Estelle Stevens; and his first wife, Bobbie Ann Davis Sikes. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Shirley Ann Sikes; one son, James E. Sikes III and wife Stephanie of Kirbyville, TX; three daughters, Lydia and husband Lanny Springer of Hooks, TX; Lynda ad Husband Mark Hartley of Marquette, NE; and Shey Maxwell of Texarkana, TX; step-children, Kevin and Shirl Simmerman of Gulfport, MS; Katherine and Apache Pedro of Downsville, LA; Douglas and Christy Simmerman of Cumby, TX;sister, Vyvian Spigner of Ashdown, AR; 12 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Celebration of his life will be at Winthrop Baptist Church Saturday December 22, 2012 at 11:00 am with Pastor Audie Dawson officiating. Visitation will be at Madden Funeral Home in Ashdown from 6 to 8 pm Friday December 21, 2012. Burial will be in the Ashdown Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alleene Community Center, P. O Box 83, Alleene, AR, 71820; the Ashdown Cemetery, P.O. Box 1135, Ashdown, AR, 71822; or the Winthrop Baptist Church (Youth Program), P. O. Box 190, Winthrop, AR, 71866.

James E. Sikes, Jr.

November 24, 1936 - December 17, 2012