James Arthur Dickerson

James Arthur Dickerson, 92, of Searcy passed away on Dec. 3, 2015. He was born Jan. 26, 1923 in Leeds, Ala. to the late James Samuel Dickerson and Ara Elsie (Henderson) Dickerson. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Daisy Middleton and Nola Shoemaker. Growing up first in Alabama and later Arkansas, James served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war he finished Arkansas State Teachers College with a bachelor's degree in music. In 1951 he married Lucile Solida from Pleasant Plains and moved to Indianapolis, Ind. where he worked in the Allison division of General Motors. In 1953 he moved back to Arkansas and bought a farm at Hickory Flat. He began teaching English at Wilburn in 1954, and later taught English, Spanish and music and served as the school librarian at Pangburn where he lived until 2006. He retired from teaching high school in 1970, but continued to sell World Book Encyclopedia, real estate, tune and repair pianos, farm, give music lessons and raise his family. He was a hard worker, a devoted husband and loved his children. He loved gardening, fishing, being outdoors, and playing music with his friends. He loved teaching and taught guitar and piano lessons to many of the neighborhood children. James is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lucile Solida Dickerson; son, James Samuel (Jim) Dickerson and daughter, Teri Dickerson Baker; grandchildren, Jaden Baker and Haley Baker Burrow; great-grandchildren, Riley Jade Baker, Milla Danielle Baker and Landry Mae Burrow. Graveside service will be 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Henderson Cemetery in Pangburn. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com.