Jim Nowlin, 79, of Blytheville, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at Baptist Memorial Hospital East in Memphis. Born April 30, 1926, in Manila, the son of Frank and Lissie Hutton Nowlin, he was a lifelong area resident and a member of the First Baptist Church. He was a retired employee of Littrell Ford, where he received the Master Salesman Award for 15 years. Mr. Nowlin, an avid fisherman and hunter, was a member of the Blytheville and Manila chapters of Ducks Unlimited and had received the Conservationist of the Year award from both chapters in 1995 and 2004. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, and a brother.

Mr. Nowlin leaves his wife of 42 years, Martha Burke Halsell Nowlin of the home; his children, Eugene Nowlin of Leitchville, Ky.; Judy Gray of St. Louis, Mo.; Marta Fiorello of Niceville, Fla.; David Halsell of Sedalia, Mo.; and April Crockett of Collierville, Tenn.; his brother, Bobby Nowlin of Blytheville; four sisters, Mary Jo Rhodes of Greenville, Mo., and Dorothy Reiter, Woody Bodenshatz, and Jane Oliver, all of Arnold, Mo.; 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. Friday in the Cobb Funeral Home Chapel in Blytheville with the Rev. Greg Bowers officiating. Burial was in the Manila Cemetery.

The family requests anyone wishing to leave a lasting memorial consider the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, c/o First Baptist Church, 715 W. Walnut, Blytheville 72315.

Condolences may be e-mailed to cobbfuneralhome@arkansas.net.