James Henry Estep, 90, of Cabot, passed away Monday, December 2, 2024. He was born October 2, 1934 in Paris, Arkansas to the late Otis and Voisie Mae Sims Estep. At the age of 13, James became a Christian and then invited his parents to church with him. Throughout his life, he was an active member of the Southern Baptist Church, most recently at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot.  James participated in four mission trips which included three to Mexico and one to Belize.

As a child, his mother said he took things apart just to see how they worked. James built a working television and his own telescope.  He and his daughters built a box kite out of Christmas wrapping paper and flew it.  He could fix or build anything.

James was a man of many interests.  He enjoyed reading historical markers and stopping at landmarks on car trips.  James was fascinated with astronomy and he loved viewing meteor showers.  He said that when he got to heaven, he was going to ask Jesus for a tour of the Universe.

When he was sixteen, James got a job at Logan Theater in Paris, eventually becoming a projectionist.  This experience would further assist him in paying for his college by working in theaters in California.  His intention was to become a lawyer, but after one plane ride, he decided to become a pilot and there his lifetime military career and love of planes began.  His missions took him across the United States as well as to Germany, Morocco, Greenland and more.  James spent twenty years in the Air Force and Air National Guard as a pilot.  Even though he flew a variety of planes, his favorite was the F86.  Some of his military accomplishments included being a safety officer for the Air National Guard, a liaison to the Air Force and Air Force Academy during his Air National Guard service years and having his name on the monument at Little Rock Air Force Base as a member of the 1st Squadron on Little Rock Air Force Base.

James was a lifetime member of the Air Force Association and was also a member of the American Legion, American Veterans and Military Officers Association of America.  He was a true patriot and loved his country.  Following his military career, James was a civil air patron who worked with children in Fresno, California.  For many years, he was executive director of the "Gathering of the Warbirds" airshow in Madera, California and was instrumental in taking it from a small show to one of the major airshows in the country.

As a young man, James owned a white '57 Corvette convertible.  Little did he know that car would win him a blind date with Barbara.  She was the love of his life and they were married for sixty-three and a half years.  Their story will continue to live on in their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and all of the memories of James.  In addition to his parents, James was preceded in death by his brothers, Billy Estep and Garry Estep.

Left to cherish his memory and to miss him dearly are his loving wife, Barbara Estep; children, Sheryl Turner (Mark), Cynthia Mancillas (Ron), Jenifer Strong (Aron), Scott Estep (Debra) and Christopher Estep (Keely); seven grandchildren, Justin Shepherd (LeAnne), Kaitlyn Shepherd, Kylie Furman (Dalton), Chase Shepherd (Hayley), Kelly Estep, Rohan Strong and Andrew Estep; ten great-grandchildren, Noah Shepherd, Matthew Shepherd, Nicholas Shepherd, James Shepherd, Paisley Shepherd, Harper Shepherd, Houston Shepherd, Greyson Dean Shepherd, Logan Furman and Elijah Furman; brothers, Jerry Estep and Ronald Estep, as well as numerous extended family members and friends.

A celebration of life with military honors will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2025 at Mount Carmel Baptist Church with Dr. David Mitchell officiating. Arrangements by Moore's Cabot Funeral Home, 501-843-5816.