Jimmy Bakalekos

Jimmy Henry Bakalekos, 83, of Sherwood, Arkansas died on Oct. 31, 2018. He was a retired and respected builder and painting contractor in Central Arkansas, and an avid coon and squirrell hunter/professional breeder of award-winning Treeing Walker and Blue Brindle Mountain Cur dogs. He was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Jewell Evelyn Lantrip Bakalekos, His father, Mike Angelo Bakalekos, and his Mother, Mary Bakalekos, two sisters, Helen Mays and Genilee Martin, a brother, Johnny Bakalekos, and one great-grandson, Jose Acosta. He is survived by a brother, Mike Bakalekos, a sister, Besse Bakalekos, son, James (Eva) Bakalekos, daughter, Debra (Joe) Bakalekos Acosta, grandchildren, Joseph, Jason, Shawn and Tisouli Acosta, and 6 great- grandchildren, Victoria, Elizabeth, Anastasia, Asher, Shawn-Will, and Giovanna Acosta, one great-great granddaughter, Adalynn Bradshaw, and a host of nieces and nephews and their offspring as well.
Jim Bakalekos built many homes in Sherwood, on "Easy Street", the early "Oakbrook" Subdivision, "Sherwood North", "Windridge" and even a few homes in Little Rock and Maumelle. He was known as a "Quality Builder", and settled for nothing less than the best work, even if it meant his profit margin was low. He was awarded the Home Builders Association of Greater LR "Energy Star" builder award, and was later nominated for "Contractor of the Year".
Jim Bakalekos was never a friend to water, as he could not swim. His son, James recalls that when he was very young, his dad took him as to a Coon Hunt, where a young boy drowned because the child had dove into the water trying to rescue a dog who was being drowned by a raccoon. This further heightened Jim's fear of water. Additionally, one of the favorite hunting spots at the time was at the Camp Robinson Base, and there is a creek, now called "Jim Creek" on the base. This was a favorite meeting place for the Coon Hunter. It was dark since Coonhunting is a "night-time Sport" and the only lights were old water and carbide lights, dangerous but used frequently by the young and old hunters. There was no bridge at the time, and so the hunters had to either drive across the creek, OR wade through if it wasn't too high. Jim Bakalekos would neither cross the creek in his truck NOR would he cross on foot. So, all the hunters would ask "Where's Jim?" and someone would say, "He's down at his Creek". Eventually it became known as "Jim's Creek" because Jim had the best dogs, and everyone knew all their dogs would follow Jim's dogs, and eventually wind up back at "Jim's Creek". Somewhere along the line, it became simply, "Jim Creek", as it is still known today on the Camp Robinson Base.
Jim and his Wife Evelyn, and his children, Debra and James, were members of the 16th Street Baptist church in North Little Rock, and was instrumental in the construction of the newer building that still stands at 16th St. between Flora and Crutcher Streets. Jim Bakalekos had briefly attended The Connection Church in Gravel Ridge. When Gravel Ridge flooded in 2010, Pastor Tim Reid missed the Sunday morning service because he donned his hip-waders and walked through the flood waters in an unsuccessful attempt to get Mr. Bakalekos to evacuate his home. Fortunately, the police and/or fire dept. personnel were able to get him to leave (by boat) the next morning, when water actually was beginning to seep into the home.
Visitation will be at 10 am, and Service at 11 am Wed. Nov 7, at the Smith NLR Funeral Home on Main St. in NLR, followed by a Short grave-side service at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Cemetery, the Retired Reverend George Peters of the former 16th St. Baptist Church of North Little Rock officiating. The family would like to thank MEMS, the Sherwood Fire and Police Departments, for the many times they helped him through welfare checks, rides to the hospital, or just helping lift him into bed when he became unable to walk at the end. The family would also like to thank his loyal CNAs, especially La Tori Randall of Superior Senior Care, and Arkansas Hospice, who assisted in his last several days, as well as 47th St. Baptist Church in NLR, till he took his last breath in his own home, as was his wish.