James William Meddress

JAMES WILLIAM MEDDRESS, Jr., 84, of Little Rock, Ark., passed away on Friday, July 7, 2017, at Little Rock, Ark. He was born Dec. 28, 1932, in Piggott, Ark., a son of the late James William Meddress Sr. and Imogene Tinsley Meddress. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Martha Meddress and his son, James William Meddress III. James William Meddress Jr. and Martha Jane Smith were married in San Antonio, Texas on January 1, 1956. They had four children. He enlisted in the Air Force on March 4, 1954. He trained as an air craft mechanic and held that position until he joined the Titan II Missile Program in 1962. James had a two-year tour in Vietnam in the early 1970's. He then returned to the missile program until he retired in 1974. He was a long-time resident of Jacksonville, Ark., and retired to Jane, Mo., with his wife, Martha. He was the owner and mechanic of Jim's Automotive, the family business, as well as the Busy Bee Liquor Store. James was a member of the Church of Christ. He really enjoyed playing on his large equipment and moving rock and dirt and also enjoyed welding. He enjoyed anything mechanical; and especially loved riding his grandchildren on the tractor when they were babies. James joins Martha and will be remembered by their children: Cynthia Kane and wife, Joan Todd of Little Rock; Pamela Moncrief and husband, Rick of Rogers; Martha Annie Robbins of Little Rock. He is also survived by grandchildren, Jason Merrell, Kaitlin Merrell, Anna Cleek and Julian Robbins; great-grandchildren, Noah, Gwyn and Will. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Monday, July 10, 2017 in the East Room of Griffin Leggett Conway. A celebration of James' life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 11, 2017, in the chapel of Griffin Leggett Conway. Burial with full military honors, will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park. Please send the family your messages of love, comfort and support to James' online guestbook at www.griffinleggettconway.com.