BRYANT — James Roy Douglas, Sr.,
71, of Bryant, Ark., departed this life on January 21, 2021, at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock, Ark. He was born on September 22, 1949, in Jonesboro, Ark., to Fred Durell, Jr. and Wanda Louise Roach Douglas.
Roy is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marian Miller Douglas; son, James Roy Douglas, Jr. (Jamie); sister, Linda Diane Douglas Whitt; brothers- in-law, VJ Whitt, Dr. Merrill Thomas Miller (Jan), and Dr. Jerry Keith Miller (Joy); nephew, Dr. Jeremy Douglas Whitt (April); nieces, Jaclyn Annette Miller Garner (Dakota), Jeanna Leigh Miller. Roy was Uncle Bump to grandnephews, Gates Douglas Whitt, and Jacob William Benjamin Longo, and grandnieces, Brewer Chapel Whitt and Madilyn Grace Thompson.
He was preceded in death his parents; his grandparents, Grace Ann Jackson Roach Woods and William David Roach, Edith Smith Douglas and Fred Durell Douglas, Sr.
Roy grew up, was christened, and married in the Marked Tree First United Methodist Church. After moving to Bryant, the family became members of the Bryant First United Methodist Church.
He graduated from Marked Tree High School and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Arkansas State University. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. Roy was given the Pike W. W. Nedrow Award for his artistic contributions and driving the Pike firetruck across the ASU campus after football games. He was also a member of the Freemasons of Arkansas.
He was the Program Administration Coordinator for the Programs and Contracts Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation where he retired after more than 35 years of service.
He was a Boy Scout, served as an Explorer Post Scout leader in Jonesboro, a Scoutmaster in Bryant and never missed Scout camp out with his son, Jamie. He was a patient and compassionate Little League baseball coach in Bryant.
His favorite pastimes were tinkering the cars, woodworking, cryptoquotes, watching and attending NASCAR races. Roy loved traveling the world with family and the Super Bowl crew. He visited 26 countries on four continents. His famous line was just as when Rick told Ilsa “We will always have Paris.” He loved the music, the movies-anything from the 1940s.
He was Mr. Fix-it who could repair, create, or redesign anything. His phone number was the first to be called when anything was broken, or a problem needed to be solved.
We have all been blessed by Roy’s love, thoughtfulness, patience, sweet demeanor, kind-heartedness, and dear, dear friendship. Roy said, “I want to be respected by others and I want to respect others.”
The family would like to express their appreciation to the physicians, nurses, and staff on Floor 10B at Baptist Medical Center for their extraordinary, compassionate, and loving care of Roy.
Funeral service will be private.
Friends and family are invited to attend graveside service, Friday January 29, 2021, at 3 p.m. at Marked Tree Cemetery, Marked Tree, Ark. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Marked Tree First United Methodist Church, Bryant First United Methodist Church, or West Memphis First United Methodist Church.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing, mask or other face coverings are required at all times. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to maintain safety while offering condolences to the family.
Online condolences may be made at delanceymurphyfuneralhome.com or obit may be viewed on Delancey-Murphy Funeral Home, Marked Tree Facebook page.