James Raleigh Dickey, 76, passed away peacefully at home in North Little Rock on October 23, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.
James is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Brenda Dickey; daughter, Jill Dickey-Hull and her husband Brian Hull of Austin, Texas; and brother, Johnny Ray Dickey of Tucson, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his father, Odin Dickey; mother, Willie Mae Jones-Smith; brother, William Dickey; and sister, Anna Prawl.
James was born March 12, 1946, in Memphis, Tenn. He graduated in 1964 from Westwood High School, where he played baseball and basketball. James was drafted during Vietnam and served as an MP in Germany before returning home to graduate from Memphis State in 1970. There he met the love of his life, Brenda Webb, while both working at Sears. They married on February 4, 1973, and later relocated to North Little Rock. James worked 33 years as a partner at Associated Products.
James' daughter, Jill Renee, was born on May 5, 1979, and they were "two peas in a pod". He was a devoted father.
A Master Diver, he looked for every opportunity to scuba dive, from Greers Ferry Lake to the Great Barrier Reef, taking Brenda and Jill on family dive trips.
Visitation is from 10:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Smith-Sherwood Funeral Home (7700 Hwy 107) with funeral service at 11:30 a.m. Interment is at 1 p.m. at Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in James' memory to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

Published October 27, 2022