James "Sharpie" Sharpensteen

Sharpie the Biker Poet a.k.a James Sharpensteen, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016 at the Circle of Life Legacy House in Bentonville, Ark. He is survived by his wife, Karla (Burrell) Sharpensteen; an uncle, Charles Vowell of the Virgin Islands; an aunt, Gretta Vowell of Rogers; mother-in-law, Shirley Rambin of Greenwood, Ark.; three sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and numerous nieces; nephews; and cousins; as well as several Biker friends that he was very close to. James, known to his friends as "Sharpie," lived his "bucket list" his whole life. He was able to travel, see, and do many various things that many of us never even think about. He spent the most of his working years insulating houses. He had done quite a variety of jobs including, but not limited to: merchant marine, ranch hand, gas station manager, changing light bulbs on antenna towers, tying up ships on the docks at New Orleans, welder, pipefitter, pizza delivery, house painter, cement yard ornaments, and was also a gourmet cook. He was one of the original extreme skateboarders and did lots of surfing, camping, and hiking in his younger days. He hiked the Appalachian Trail where he was bit by a rattlesnake and survived. While delivering pizzas in New Orleans, he was stabbed twice and shot once, he had been struck by lightning twice, and had several close calls with death throughout his life. He was a poet, writer, philosopher, biker, photographer, and literally a "jack of all trades." His favorite thing in recent years was to take what he called "adventures" on his bike and share his poems with whomever he met. He had just began to really get into photography the past three years and had a natural gift for lining up photos. A Celebration of his Life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a childrens' charity of your choice in his honor. Arrangements by Benton County Memorial Park Funeral Home, Rogers, Arkansas. "Eternity" by Sharpie the Biker Poet Short is my time here on earth, Eternity is mine since my birth. To the earth I will be no slave, I will not be buried in a grave. I will freely ascend, And my ashes scattered in the wind. No trap, I will not be caught, I will live on in the freedom of thought. Frozen in time etched in frost, My soul through poetry will never be lost.