Mr. James Alex “Jimmy” Earls, Jr., 67, of Readyville, Tennessee passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. He was born in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas on Wednesday, August 10, 1955. Preceding him in death was his father, James Alex Earls, Sr.
He is survived by his mother, Mary Joyce Tyner of Colorado; son, Lucas Earls of Readyville; daughter, Shelby Earls of Woodbury; brother, Michael Earls of Springfield; sister, Vickie (Jimmie) Martinez of Colorado; and grandchildren, Paisley Young, Bryson Fox, and Cercie Earls.
Being drafted into a military lifestyle, Jimmy had the opportunity to travel, but he always managed to make it back home to Cannon County. He started off at Woodbury Central High School but ended up finishing up at Yamato High School in Japan. Akin to a fish out of water, Jimmy was determined you could take the boy out of the country, but you couldn’t take the country out of the boy. He proved that over and over in his lifetime with his attraction to the water, creek water that is.
His roving lifestyle worked well with his passion for fishing. If he wasn’t catching anything, he could just move up the creek or on to the next one. But his moving actually lessened once he got to the creek. Jimmy had creek fishing figured out and thought of himself as “King of the Creeks.” That was an inheritance of wisdom and passion that he wanted to pass on.
He took Lucas on his first fishing trip as a boy down to the Stones River, and Jimmy didn’t disappoint. It was a good day fishing with many catches hooked and memories made. When Vickie got married, Jimmy was sure to break in the fresh bait taking her husband along with him and Lucas. However, fishing was far from the extent of Jimmy’s abilities.
A talented individual with his hands, Jimmy could do anything from paint you a picture to landscape your garden. His paintings and drawn portraits were often placed on irons and sawblades. As for the masonry, you can see his work in the community. Jimmy took part in laying the rock for the Senior Citizen Center’s sign, and rumor has it, he may also have had a hand in making the sign in front of the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department.
Though all of those were amazing creations on their own, Jimmy didn’t limit himself to just paint, metal, and rock. Instead, if he could find a material, he was going to make something. His woodworking skills developed as he made anything from picture frames to entertainment centers for people. You can still see Jimmy’s appreciation for art and craftsmanship as it lives on in his children through their work and their tattoos.
Visitation will be held at Gentry-Smith Funeral Home on Saturday, February 18, 2023 from 4-8 pm. Memorial services will be held at a later date.