“James “”Jim”” G. Sperry, 78, died March 6, 2015, at Circle of Life Hospice, in Bentonville Ark. Born Dec. 14, 1936, at Joplin, Mo., he was the son of David J. and Virginia Mayo Sperry, and was the second of eight children. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Lillian Green and Judith Heikkila; brother, Stephen Sperry; and son, Douglas Sperry. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Gloria S. (Ellis) Sperry, of Bella Vista Ark., son, Brent Sperry (wife, Janice), of Rogers Ark.; grandchildren, Brad, Michael, Steven, Rebecca, Jacob, Elizabeth, Patrick and Kara; five great-grandchildren, Gabriel, William, Hadley, Harper and Mason; and his mother-in-law, Fern Ellis, of Rogers. Also, brother David (wife, Carolyn) Sperry, of Largo Fla.; sisters, Miriam Clemmons, of Pinellas Park Fla., Susan Humphrey (husband, Shain), of Omaha Neb., and Kathy Baker (husband, Max), of Farmington, Utah; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jim liked to hunt, fish and restore old cars. He served in the US Navy as an avionics technician and loved to fly. After leaving the military, he worked as a field engineer for Smith Corona, Marchant, and Eastman Kodak. He retired in 1991, after a long career.

He lived a life of service and was a Boy Scout leader for many years, deacon in the Baptist church, three term American Legion Commander for Post 341 in Bella Vista and was on the Veterans Council board of directors for 12 years. He was instrumental in building the Wall of Honor veterans memorial in Bella Vista.”