J. P. Broadaway

J. P. (JAKE) BROADWAY, 82, of Maumelle, entered his heavenly home on March 9, 2017 and was greeted by his wife Virginia, son Brad, parents Vance L. and Mildred C. Broadaway, and brother Vance, who preceded him in death. He is survived by his daughter, Jan Stafford, and grandchildren, who call him Paw Paw, Sarah (Kyle) Adams, Laura (Justin) Murray, Jessica (Brandon) Pope, Ben Broadaway, and Mary Kathryn Stafford as well as nine great-grandchildren. Jake is also survived by his daughter-in-law, Janet Broadaway, sister-in-law, Donna Jo Broadaway, and son-in-law/business partner, Tony Stafford. Jake was a 1952 graduate of North Little Rock High School and attended Arkansas Tech University on a football scholarship. He began his career working at Western Auto selling television sets, but soon entered the food sales industry with Voegel's Foods, RT French Co., and Blue Plate Foods. In 1965, together with his brother Vance, they began a career "paving the world black" with the creation of Bituminous Asphalt Sealing Specialists (BASS Co.) They were the initiators of coal tar sealing, slurry sealing, and micro surfacing in the AR/LA/MS area. In 1980, this operation was expanded into Central Arkansas, establishing offices in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. He served on the board of the International Slurry Surfacing Association for five years before becoming president (1987) in Geneva, Switzerland. He and Virginia enjoyed traveling the world promoting this new surfacing material to the government agencies. Jake was a proud member of the North Little Rock Sertoma Club, serving on its board of directors and as president. The club's fundraising efforts supported his passion for helping the Arkansas School for the Deaf. He spent his free time volunteering there and developed a love for the children that attended. He was named Sertoma of the Year (2000) and received the Community Achievement and the President Award in 1997. He was inducted into Who's Who in American Business in 1995 and the North Little Rock Boys and Girls Club Hall of Fame in 1999. He was a member of Maumelle Country Club and cherished his friendships made in Maumelle. He became a member of Central Baptist Church in 1951 and served as an usher for many years. Jake enjoyed being a member of the Fellowship Sunday School class with fellow longtime members of the church. The family is forever grateful to the John L. McClellan VA Medical Center's Palliative Care Unit, for the compassionate care they provided and to Steve Schratz for his selfless acts of love and daily companionship he gave Jake, making it possible for him to remain in his home with Jan and his beloved dog, Cookie. His grandchildren summed up his life in these words: "He was a man of adventure, living life to the fullest, and taking crazy chances that others would have run from. He was a man that, when you heard his booming voice and laugh, you knew he was someone you wanted to know better. There was no question, people were drawn to him. He was a man that loved his family and loved his Lord. If life's a game, then Paw Paw won!" Honorary pallbearers are members of the North Little Rock Sertoma Club and Robert Pritchett, Jake's Sunday school class teacher. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 14, at 9 a.m. followed by services at 10 a.m. at Central Baptist Church, 5200 Fairway Ave., North Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Arkansas School for the Deaf, 2400 West Markham, LR, Ark. 72205. Please share your thoughts and memories of Jake with the family online at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.