Jimmie Ray Johns, 92, of Alma, passed away Sunday, February 9, 2025, in Rogers. He was born January 31, 1933 in Cedarville to the late Samuel and Hattie (Williams) Johns, and spent most of his childhood there.
Upon graduation from high school, Jimmie went to work for Goff Grocery Stores in Van Buren before joining the U.S. Army and serving in England during the Korean War. While in England, he met and married a local girl, Jean Stevens, and brought her back home to Arkansas where they had two sons. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, he went to work for Safeway Grocery Stores where he managed stores in Russellville, Fayetteville, Springdale and Siloam Springs for 40 years; and after retiring from there, he went to work for National Home Centers in Springdale, for the next seven years. Jimmie married June McMillan in 1980, and they spent many years enjoying traveling around the United States with Jimmie’s brother, Harold, and Harold’s wife, Alwilda. June preceded him in death in 2024, and his brother Harold preceded him in death in 2023.
He is survived by his first wife, Jean Shipley; his two sons, Steven Johns and wife Marcia, and Billy Johns and wife Michelle; a stepdaughter Tracy Peters and husband Galen; five grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at Edward Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel, with interment to follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Van Buren, under the direction of Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home of Van Buren, AR.
Pallbearers will be Cory Johns, Trace McCorkle, Brad Morgan, Chad Morgan, Dominick Morgan, Mike Netherton, and Brenden Morgan.
The family will visit with friends from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday, February 17, 2025, at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home, 4100 Alma Highway, Van Buren, AR.