James S. Latture Jr.
On Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, James Sidney Latture Jr. passed away at the age of 96.
A native of Searcy, Ark., Jim was born on April 13, 1923, to James Sidney Latture Sr. and Flora Allie Plant Latture Howell. He served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II as a sergeant in the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron. He received the World War II Victory Ribbon, the AP Theater Ribbon and two Bronze Service Stars.
In 1946, Jim, who was in pharmacy school at the University of Mississippi, met his wife-to-be, Hazel, at a dance for the University of Tennessee Medical School. He knew as soon as he saw her that he would marry her. He said it was like a “light from above shone on them.” He proposed the night he met her, but she turned him down saying she was finishing her nursing degree! After Hazel graduated, she worked as an RN in Memphis. On Oct. 25, 1947, Jim was in Memphis visiting Hazel so they could go to the Ole Miss football game. On that day, they decided to elope, so they drove to Hernando, Miss., and got married. Hazel gave her notice at her job and moved to Oxford to be with her new husband.
Jim graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1949 and moved to Hot Springs, Ark., with Hazel. In 1959, he went on to open his own drug store on Albert Pike, Jim’s Pharmacy. His motto was, “We love to spoil our customers,” and many Hot Springs residents will remember the “Pill Wagon” VW bug with the mortar and pestle on the roof, delivering medicine to his customers all over town. Jim loved and spoiled his customers in the Hot Springs community until he closed the store in 1999, all while helping raise four wonderful daughters.
As a member and former president of the Arkansas Pharmacy Association, Jim received the Pharmacist of the Year Award in 1979. In 1985, he was honored by the American Pharmacists Association Foundation and the National Association of State Pharmacy Associations by receiving the Bowl of Hygeia Award, a community service award given to one person from each state annually to honor pharmacists who have contributed to the progress of their community. He was also a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists.
In addition to serving Hot Springs at Jim’s Pharmacy, he also made other contributions to the community as well. Jim was an active member of Grand Avenue United Methodist Church for over 70 years, serving in multiple leadership positions. Upon joining the church, Jim and Hazel served as youth directors for the junior and senior high youth group. Throughout his 70-year membership, Jim served as chairman of the Administrative Board, church treasurer, member of the Board of Trustees and member of the Staff-Parish Committee. Essentially, over the years, he served in most capacities at the church, except singing in the choir (for which the entire congregation was grateful!).
He was also a founding member of the Board of Directors of Grand National Bank, now known as US Bank, in Hot Springs. Jim served on the board of the bank from its inception in March 1973 until Dec. 31, 2018. He was also a member of the Arkansas Corvair Club, member of Vintage and Classic Cars of Hot Springs and Master Mason with the Searcy Grand Lodge of Arkansas. Jim also was a member of the Hot Springs Executive Club and served as its president in 1996-1997. He was an active member in The Salvation Army. He was awarded a lifetime membership by the local Salvation Army because of his work with the organization. Jim was also a proud member of the Tuesday/ Thursday Golf Group at the Hot Springs Country Club.
Jim was predeceased in death by his wife, Hazel Lee Branch Latture, his parents, and his brother, Connell Burton Latture.
He is survived by his daughters, Ann Latture Atkinson (Jack), of Denver, Colo., Jamie Latture Collier (Danny), of Frisco, Texas, Carol Latture Graham (Rob), of Little Rock, Ark., and Cindy Latture Harris, of Little Rock, Ark.; grandchildren, Crichton Latture Atkinson (Joel Clark), of Madison, Conn., Mary Catherine Collier Latham (Bill), of Southaven, Miss., Margaret Ann Collier Knutson (Grant), of Madison, Miss., David Latture Collier (Lauren), of Northlake, Texas, Sidney Latture Leasure, of Little Rock, Ark., Amanda Michelle Graham Wise (Charles), of Little Rock, Ark., Bradley Caroline Graham, of Memphis, Tenn., and Michael D. Greer Jr. (Whitney), of Tupelo, Miss.; great-grandchildren, William James and Andrew Daniel Latham, of Southaven,
Miss., Grant Owen Knutson III and Collier Ellis Knutson, of Madison, Miss., and Elin Olivia and Jack Parker Greer of Tupelo, Miss.; honorary daughters, Suzy Lipe Thames, of Magee, Miss., Beth Holt Tripp, of Shelbyville, Ky., and Jamie Grantham, of Little Rock, Ark.; and honorary “#1 son,” Philip Dickson.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Hot Springs at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. at the church. Pallbearers are Michael Greer, David Collier, Bill Latham, Charles Wise, Burt Latture and Philip Dickson. Honorary pallbearers are Jack Atkinson, Danny Collier, Rob Graham, Joel Clark, Grant Knutson, Charles Branch, Frederick (Frodie) Branch, Larry Branch, Ellis Ray Branch, Elliott McVey, Doug Baber, members of the Arkansas Corvair Club, members of the Grand Avenue United Methodist Church, and staff and residents of West Shores Retirement Community.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grand Avenue United Methodist Church.
Online condolences at http:// www.caruth-hale.com.