James "Jim" Kilts

Jim Kilts age 83, of Arkadelphia passed away Friday, June 17, 2022, at his home. He was born March 27, 1939, to James L. and Fern Hansen Kilts. He was raised in the Catholic Church. He always said he felt closer to God when he was on his tractor. Jim loved his God, Country, and his family especially his grandchildren.

Jim served in the U. S. Navy from 1956 until 1962. In the sixties, he participated in short track dirt racing in Southern California. He was a member of the Clark County Cattleman’s Association. He was the owner of Kilts Beefmaster in Okolona.

He retired from UAPB and from Scroll Technologies as an industrial maintenance engineer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Barbara Fedell, brother-in-law, Gary Fedell, brother, Robert “Bob” Kilts, sister-in-law, Carolyn Kilts, father-in-law, Monroe Johnston and a granddaughter, Oakley Kilts.

Jim was survived by best friend and wife, Loretta Johnston Kilts; a son Christopher and wife, Carolyn Kilts of Cassville, Missouri; daughters, Tamara Gray of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Jennifer Drake and partner, Nathan Hooper of Bolivar, Missouri, Stephanie McClure of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Tiffanie and husband, Rusty Rutherford of Okolona, Arkansas; grandchildren, Pierce and wife, Liana Lowery, Emily Drake and partner, Jerry McBride, Clair Parsons, Kaylee Erlandson, Alexis Rogers, James and Sophia McClure, Aubrey and Paisley Kilts and R. J. Rutherford; a sister, Judy Conners of Rochelle, Illinois and his mother-in-law, Elvena Johnston of Bolivar, Missouri.

Please join us as we celebrate his life on Thursday, June 23^rd with visitation beginning at 1:00 PM with services following at 2:00 PM at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home with Bro Jeffrey Murphy officiating. Services will conclude with military honors.

Honorary pallbearers will be Terry Roberts, Linda Franklin, Jimmy McNabb, Greg Stubblefield, and his girls at BHMC-A NFS.

The family would like to extend their gratitude and thanks to Baptist Health Hospice, Dayna Garrett R. N. and Dr. David Jones and staff.

Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or American Cancer Society.