Calico Rock – In Memory of Jim Clinkingbeard (Posted by Ginger Smith)
Calico Rock – In Memory of Jim Clinkingbeard
This afternoon, a scion of our community, Jim Clinkingbeard, passed away and entered his eternal rest. Battling a rare eye disease for over 15 years and just a few months shy of his 90th birthday, Mr. Clinkingbeard left to mourn his passing his wife, Billie, their sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren and great grandchildren, a host of family and friends, and a community in-debted for his service.
In 1946, Jim and Billie Clinkingbeard made their home in Calico Rock. For 66 years, they operated Family Shoe & Dry Goods on Main Street. Jim was a cobbler by trade and sold shoes and dry goods. They rented the Evans Brothers Drug Store building and operated a soda fountain and lunch counter for many years.
In 1950, Dr. Noel Copp and Tip Wiseman organized a week-long mule train ride from Calico Rock to Blanchard Springs for boys in the community. Jim Clinkingbeard did the leather work on the saddles for the trip.
In 1963, he and Mr. Dyer, from Mountain Home, constructed a new building for the United States Post Office. Today, the building houses the Calico Rock Community Care Program. The food room provides assistance to needy families in the building Mr. Clinkingbeard and Mr. Dyer built to serve the community.
Mr. Clinkingbeard served on the Calico Rock City Council, the Calico Rock School Board, and the Calico Rock Volunteer Fire Department over his years of service to the community.
A few simple words cannot adequately express the years of service, devotion to his wife and family, faith in God, or the countless lives he touched in his 89 years on this earth. Jim and Billie Clinkingbeard were honored by the Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center as Community Heroes just prior to their retirement, however no honor could ever convey the difference they have made to our community or the impact their lives will have for decades to come.
The Calico Rock Museum & Visitor Center mourns with his family and our community in our loss, but we celebrate the life he led and the difference he made.
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Calico Rock Museum Foundation
104 Main Street
Calico Rock, Arkansas 72519
870-297-6100
www.calicorockmuseum.com
