Biography:

Jim Fanning was born at Saint Vincent Infirmary in downtown Little Rock and lived in the area his entire life. He enjoyed his 1950s childhood and had great stories to tell and friends that he kept for life.

He graduated from Old Main High School in North Little Rock, class of 1967 and was drafted within two years. Jim served in the US Army Americal Division and went to Vietnam where he was assigned to artillery on fire bases. He also made lifelong friends from that time.

Most of his work life was at Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, in structural repair, using his skills in construction, and was called on for specialty construction projects.

Once again, he made many friends there.

He loved to ride his motorcycles and had 18 different bikes throughout his life, starting at 12 years old with his beloved Cushman Eagle.

Jim was a member of the veterans support group at the Vet Center in Little Rock. The group was his biggest source of brotherhood and support and meant so much to him.

Jim is predeceased by his parents, Harvey and Annette Fanning, and brothers Carl and David Fanning, his dear aunts and uncles, Nathan and Alice Gaskill, Elsie Fanning, and Joe and Marie Staats.

He is survived by his wife, Laura Fanning, stepson, Zack Hudson, grandkids, Emma Hudson and Asher Hudson and a great-granddaughter, Harmony Hudson, all of Little Rock, and his cousin, Natalie Davis of Knoxville, TN. Doc Tobey was as much a brother to Jim as any he had and helped him get through hard times with both his war wounds and his health problems.

A memorial service will be at Ruebel Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow.