Orville James "Jim" Acker

Orville James “Jim” Acker went to be with his Lord on August 23, 2015 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale Arkansas after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer and cholangiocarcinoma. He was born July 9, 1941 in Checotah, Oklahoma, the son of Richard Herman and Lena Beatrice Nunley Acker.

As the youngest of ten children, he was known to the family as Jimmy, and completed his education in Oklahoma, as well as attending Connors State College in Warner. He soon discovered his love of law enforcement and continued that work when he moved to Arkansas in 1972. He remained a resident of Prairie Grove for the next 43 years, serving as a patrolman in the Fayetteville Police Department, working through the ranks of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department to Captain, and devoting his heart to the community of Lincoln through many years of service as Chief of Police.

Jimmy, Captain, Chief, was known at home as Daddy, Grandpa, Papaw, Uncle. He was never more at peace than when he was surrounded by family. For decades, his loving wife Carol convinced all the little ones in the family that his name was Fat Cop, and for using this name, they would be rewarded with a chase, a serious tickling, and a threat to be thrown on top of the house. This delighted every child in the family, and Fat Cop he remained for the rest of his days. (For this she was rewarded with the name of “Big Red.”) Fat Cop and Big Red raised and loved as many children as they could get their hands on.

Jim was a member of the Summer Missionary Baptist Church in Summers Arkansas, and cherished his church family.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Carol Louise Remington Acker, his parents; brothers Herman Hugh Acker, Ellis Woodrow Acker, Walter G. Acker, and Roy Wayne Acker; sisters Lucille G. Acker, Julia Beatrice Acker Hamby, Ethel May Acker Nichols, Billie Louise Acker Lane and Mary Maxine Acker Beashears, and his grandson Frederick Nicholas Buckle.

Survivors include his beloved children and grandchildren; Mickey and Rochelle Acker of Nashville Tennessee, Marty and Staci Acker of Coalgate Oklahoma, Tonia and Kaitlyn Acker of Maumelle Arkansas, Anthony James “A. J.” and Alyssa Acker of Coalgate Oklahoma, Tyler and Kelsey Acker of Nashville Tennessee, Rhett and Gentree Acker of Muldrow Oklahoma, Ty and Cherokee Miller of Durant Oklahoma, as well as great grandchildren T. J. Acker and Camri Miller. Jim also considered as his children and grandchildren, Carla and Glenn Atkins, Ashley and Chuck Leichner, Kenleigh Riggins, Zachary Riggins, Chloe Riggins, Connor Riggins, Brenton “Bo” Muraga, Grant Atkins, Morgan Atkins, and Corbin Atkins all of Springdale, and Laura Yancey Whelchel of Farmington. He is survived by numerous special nieces and nephews and other extended family members in the Acker and Remington families, as well as his friends and church family. He is also survived by many of the men and women in blue that he hired, trained, mentored, loved and supported during his 45 years of law enforcement.

Memorials may be made to Summers Baptist Missionary Church, 22055 US Hwy 62 West, Summers Arkansas, 72769, or to your local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August at 10:00 a.m. at Summers Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Paul Young officiating. Burial will be in the Prairie Grove Cemetery in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Honorary Pallbearers will be A. J. Acker, Tyler Acker, Rhett Acker, Michael Riggins, Zachary Riggins, Steve Zega, and the officers of the Lincoln Police Department.