Biography: James “Jim Ed” Dawson, finished the race of life and joined the roster of angels on August 12, 2020. Born September 8, 1968 in the Philippines, he lived most of his formative years in Arkansas and Oklahoma, before traveling much of the world during his career in the United States Air Force before landing in Little Rock, Arkansas. He is survived by his wife, Sheri Dawson, children, Lindsay Dawson (24), Joshua Dawson (19), and Christian Dawson (16), dogs, Swayze and Lilo, cats, Chrissy and Nala, mother and stepfather, Sue Dawson Tannehill and Don Tannehill, mother-in-law, Claudia Tucker, brother-in-law, Billy Tucker, stepsister Donna Tannehill Slaughter, uncle Jerry Butler, cousins Bryana Gahagan and Jeff Butler, and numerous extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his father James C. Dawson, his grandparents Glenn and Vera A. Butler (Papa Patch and Nanny Doll) and Novice and Crystal Elaine Dawson, and aunt, Anita Miller.   He is a remarkable man who lived more in 51 years than most can hope to live in a lifetime.

He met his best friend and wife of 32 years, the former Sheri McClure Tucker, in the dining hall of Westark Junior College (now University of Arkansas-Fort Smith) where Jim Ed was a founding member of the fraternal “Royal Order of the Caribou” in tribute to the film Animal House. Their first date was, fittingly, a frat Halloween party where, always the fun-loving jokester, Jim Ed picked up Sheri from the local mall dressed as a Polynesian Warrior, donning traditional grass skirt, spear in hand, and body covered with spray-on tan. Why you may ask? Sheri had lived in Hawaii, but that is story for another time. A man of impeccable timing, Jim Ed proposed marriage while watching a movie and Sheri, thinking him joking, politely declined. After they left the theater she asked him if he was serious and the rest, as they say, is history.

Shortly after exchanging wedding vows, Jim Ed and Sheri embarked on his 21-year career in the United States Air Force, where he honorably retired in 2009 having achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. He served his country with honor and distinction in multiple combat engagements, including Operation Desert Storm North, Operation Southern Watch (3 time deployment to Saudi Arabia), and in 2003 he deployed to Oman in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he was Chief of Supply at Seeb Air Force Base before deploying to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. During his military career, Jim Ed received over 30 commendations and awards, such as the Air Force Commendation medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters (meaning he received it 4 times) and the Air Force Achievement medal with 2 Oak Clusters- to name a few. After retirement, Jim Ed continued to work at the Little Rock Air Force Base as a civilian contractor until his medical retirement last year.

Jim Ed has been a prolific coach of youth sports that has left a positive effect on his former players. A fierce competitor, Jim Ed expected excellence and 100% effort from all his athletes no matter their talent. He had the privilege of coaching each of his children in several different sports. Jim Ed has a very animated coaching style, which resulted in many rousing and eye-catching incidents with umpires, referees, and opposing coaches. Ever the one with a quick wit and retort, he once smashed a baseball bat on the ground during a 6 Year Old All-Star game, and when confronted by the umpire, Jim Ed said he was innocently “smashing a bug.” Notwithstanding this reasonable and plausible explanation, he was still tossed from the game. Of course never one to be thwarted, on those “rare” occasions he was asked to leave the ball field, Jim Ed would hunker down behind the outfield wall, yelling strategy and offering encouragement to this team. His passion for the games was admired by many, and although his vision during the game was fixed on victory, afterwards, opposing coaches and players alike received his warm friendship and camaraderie.

For 24 years, he and his family have been members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. He knew Asbury would be his home church when he walked in the first time and saw an image of the Arkansas Razorback projected on the screen. He said “God and the Hogs- this is my kind of church.” Active and faithful, he was much loved by his church family, and famous for the Sunday school class he held every week in some corner or hall, where the topics included sports, his famous chili, local sports, family, collegiate sports, comic books, professional sports, movies, more sports, and some gospel thrown in for good measure (but mostly sports). He wasn’t flashy in this faith, but there was no doubt he believed in the Lord’s saving grace and redemption. Jim Ed has likely already carved out his corner of heaven, where the Dallas Cowboys annually win the Super Bowl, the Atlanta Braves never miss the World Series, and the Arkansas Razorbacks win another National Championship (is anything too great for God?).  One thing is certain, Jim Ed is undoubtedly looking forward to the time when he will be reunited with his beloved wife and children, never again to be parted, for an eternity of happiness and jokes (it is Heaven so keep em’ clean Jim Ed).

An existential question of life is how do you measure a man’s soul? Power, social status, wealth…chili? His 7-meat chili was legendary in culinary circles, and he has the distinction of multiple chili cook-off victories. Most notably, first place at Catholic High’s annual contest, followed by a second place showing the year after only because he had won the year before and wasn’t eligible to win again. But ultimately the answer to the question is quite simple- it’s none of those things…well…maybe that darn good chili. In reality the gauge of a man’s life is in the memories of those he leaves behind. Of all his many accomplishments, the one that Jim Ed was most proud of and considered his greatest was his family. It is an understatement to say “he loved his family.”
All his heart, soul, and energy was given to his spouse and children. Through the many ups and downs of his life and marriage, the one constant is the love and dedication he had for Sheri, Lindsay, Josh, and Christian. Even though disabled by a stroke in recent years, Jim Ed never gave up and what he had to give, he gave it all. No one sums up Jim Ed’s extraordinary sojourn on earth better than his beloved and surprising well-adjusted children:Of his father, Josh pens: “A true hero, the funniest man I have ever met. The most loving person and father and husband, and the most talkative person God put on this earth...a man always in my corner no matter how bad I messed up. I will the miss the twenty times you would call me a day just to say ‘love you boy’…Thank you for all the sacrifices you gave for me and our family.”

Christian remembers: “The times that I went hunting with him were the most fun I’ve ever had with him because of the conversations we had together up in that stand. The thing he always told me throughout my life was ‘I’ll make it happen, I’ll get you to where you want to go in life’ and to having an amazing dad like him, to guide me through everything meant the world to me and my family.”

Finally, Lindsay writes: “My dad was the dad every man should hope to be. He mentored kids on life from all over Arkansas through baseball, football, and basketball…He knew every event in history. He made the best chili. He coached every practice. He came to every singing and dancing recital. He gave me the love of reading; finding joy in hobbit holes, tales of dwarves, outer space, and wizarding worlds. He was, and always will be, my world…He gave us everything. I wish more than anything he could see me graduate law school, watch Josh play his next game, and take Christian on his next fishing trip. We went to every sport game, grocery store trip, and errand together because of the example my mom and dad instilled in us. We can’t really begin to tell you all how we four feel. We four have lost our best friend and we can never fill that void again. Pray for us, tell us stories of him forever, and hug your dad a little more tightly. I love you 3000, daddy.”

A celebration of Jim Ed’s life and sermon will be held on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 10 AM at the Jr. Deputy Babe Ruth Sports Park at 2500 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 on the Babe Ruth Dickie Stephens field. Attendees are asked to respect all social distancing guidelines currently in effect.

Given his salty temperament and disposition, Jim Ed would view flowers as extremely offensive or a big joke; so rather, the family requests donations be sent to Jr. Deputy or the Asbury United Methodist Youth Ministry in memory of his love of youth baseball and his faith.