Coach Jim Dixon

Coach Jim Dixon, 79, of Jonesboro, passed away Feb. 10, 2022.

Jim was born in Camden to Eva Hudgens Dixon and Fred Dixon. He graduated from Willisville High School in 1960 and went on to play baseball for Henderson State University. He graduated in 1964 with a degree in education and began his coaching career. Jim was married to Margrett Louise Lawrence of Armorel for 55 years until her death in 2020. Margrett was an outstanding teacher and wife of a coach. They taught and coached in Arkansas and Texas. Jim and Margrett were avid animal lovers.

Jim was the oldest and is survived by six brothers, Joseph (Merci D) of Lake Charles, La., Robert and Mark (Debbie) of El Dorado, William (Alonae) of Alexandria, La., John (Reney) and Charles T. (Diana) of Humble, Texas; and one sister, Nan Alexander of Sherwood. He is also survived by the Lawrence family and many nieces and nephews.

Jim’s goal in life was like many little boys – to be a professional baseball player and play for the St. Louis Cardinals. If he wasn’t good enough for that, he would find someone with more God given talent and teach him the little things that one must know to get started. That person was Jeff Stone of Wardell, Mo. Jeff played in the major league with the Philadelphia Phillies. Probably the highlight of Jeff’s career came in the minor league where in 1981 he stole 123 bases. This was a record in minor league baseball at the time.

Jim was a coach for 43 years and a teacher for 47 years. He mentored many high school players. He began coaching at Armorel from 1964 to 1965 and then began at Blytheville from 1966 to 1983. They then moved to Itasca, Texas, and he took that team to the state playoffs. The next stop for Jim was to Tarkington, Texas, from 1985 until 2002. They moved back to Jonesboro and Jim assisted with the coaching at the high school from 2004 until 2013. He contributed to their winning of a state title in 2007. The highlight of his career was winning the state championship in high school basketball in 1979 and state champion runner up in 1978 for Blytheville High School. He won many awards for outstanding coaching.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Margrett. Jim wanted to end his obituary with ‘I’ll meet you by the river some glad day.”

Funeral services will be held Monday, Feb. 14, at 11 a.m. at Armorel Baptist Church. Entombment will follow in Dogwood Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time at Armorel Baptist Church.

The family requests that any memorials be made in Jim’s honor to Jonesboro Humane Society, 6111 East Highland Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.cobbfuneralhome.com.