JAMES “JIM” PATRICK MAYES,
76, of Sherwood, Arkansas, passed away on March 7, 2020. Jim was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on July 1, 1943, to Harold Harding Mayes and Emma Kresse Mayes. He was preceded in death by both parents and his two sets of grandparents, Edward Alonzo and Esmeralda Mayes and Herman and Emma Kresse.
Jim leaves behind many loved ones who will cherish his memory. He leaves behind his former wife of 44 years, Sharon Mayes and their five children: Kenneth Mayes (Melana), Jim E. Mayes, Natalie Robinson (Todd), Gail Runnells (Jeff), and Wendy Sanabria (Richard). He is also survived by his siblings Dennis Mayes (Joan) and Emily Davis. He is survived by 12 grandchildren: Skylar and Brookes Howard; Kayla and Garrett Mayes; Justin, Jacob, and Joshua Runnells; Quinten and Isaiah Robinson; Merrick and Mathias Mayes; Bailey Sanabria; and one great-granddaughter Isabella Ramos. Jim is survived by the love of his life, Shirley Mae Senteney and her children Robby Gibson (Edna) and Candace Dillingham (Bryan). He is also survived by a host of family and friends.
Growing up he worked a variety of jobs- cutting grass, shining shoes, wiring houses, life guarding, mowing, raking, and baling hay. He spent three summers in Slovak, Arkansas, working in the rice and soybean fields where he made two lifelong friends, Frank and George Dobrovich, who were like brothers to him. He graduated from Catholic High School in 1961, which was the first class to graduate from the new school.
He served in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1966. He served during the Cuban Missile Crisis and made four trips to Vietnam. He was aboard the USS Thomaston LSD 28 where he manned the radar that aimed the guns. He reached the rank of FT5-3. Jim worked for Union Pacific/ Missouri Pacific Railroad
for 37 years. He retired as the Materials Manager in 2003. He was a member of the Knight of Columbus for 50 years.
Jim was an avid fisherman, outdoorsman, and sports fan. He loved to coach his children’s baseball and softball teams. Jim had a kind heart and was always willing to help others.
He has chosen not to have a service and to have his ashes placed in the Arkansas State Veteran’s Cemetery at 1501 West Maryland Avenue in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of Jim Mayes to the Catholic High School at 6300 Father Tribou Street in Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 or to the Knights of Columbus council #6253 at 6253 Camp Robinson Road in North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118.
The family will host a celebration of life to remember Jim at the aforementioned Knights of Columbus Hall on Saturday, March 21, 2020 from 4 to 8 p.m. To share a memory of Jim with his family visit www.griffinleggettresthills.com.