James Ross Mansfield

James Ross Mansfield, 84, of Benton, Ark. died on October 3rd surrounded by his family. He was born June 13, 1933, in Bauxite, Ark. to Clarence and Edna Bragg Mansfield. He attended Bauxite schools and graduated in the class of 1952. During his high school days, he played basketball, served as senior class treasurer and participated in the junior and senior high school plays. As a senior, he received the "Grand Award" for a project he made. The award was given by the Arkansas Industrial Arts Association. James enlisted in the Navy in 1953. On July 31, 1955, he married Wanda Sue Brown, his wife of 57 years. He returned to Bauxite and worked at Alcoa until starting college in the fall of 1957 after being honorably discharged from the Navy. James and Wanda also welcomed their first born, Renee Parker Dickins that year. He graduated from Arkansas State Teachers College (now the University of Central Arkansas) with a B.S. degree in Industrial Education in 1961. In the spring of 1963, their son James Kevin Mansfield was born. He taught school in North Little Rock and Benton Public schools for twenty years. While in Benton, he started the industrial arts program in Jr. High. After two years, he moved to Benton Sr. High and began their industrial arts program. He served two years as assistant principal. In 1968-69, he was recognized as the Arkansas Industrial Arts Teacher of the year. After his teaching career, he worked for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department as their Safety Director. Once retired, James served on the Benton Planning and Zoning Commission for 17 years and the Variance Board for 11 years. James was a member of the Bauxite Ole Timers and East Smith Street Church of Christ. He was inducted into the Benton Wall of Fame in 2008. In August of 2013, he married Naomi Mills Smith. He was inducted into the Bauxite Wall of Honor in 2016. He loved attending his grandchildren's sporting events, hunting, fishing, and playing dominoes with friends. James was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Sue Avaritt, brothers Curtis and Paul Mansfield, his wife Wanda Brown Mansfield, and brothers in law Dwight and Gary Brown. James is survived by his wife, Naomi Mills Smith Mansfield, daughter, Renee Parker Dickins (John) of Fayetteville, son, James Kevin (Loretta) of Benton, and their children, Clint and Clay McCool. His grandchildren, Brooke Parker Edwards (Jason) of Fayetteville, Creighton Ross Parker (Lauren) of Little Rock, and great-grandson, Brannon Ross Parker of Little Rock. He is also survived by stepchildren, Webster Jr., Reginald, Scott, Anthony, Jeffery Smith and Elizabeth Brennan. His four sisters-in-law, Jean Mansfield, Michelle Brown, Paula Mansfield, Theresa Brown, and brother in law Kenneth Avaritt and several nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Ashby Funeral Home in Benton, Thursday, Oct. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. A celebration of life honoring James will be held on Friday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. at Ashby Funeral Home. Burial will be at Mount Olive Cemetery. To visit the online guestbook go to www.ashbyfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Bauxite Historical Association Museum, (BHAM) P.O. Box 245, Bauxite, Ark. 72011, East Smith Street Church of Christ Mission Fund, 313 E. Smith St., Benton, Ark. 72015, or your favorite charity.