POCAHONTAS-James Douglas Brackett passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Randolph County Medical Center. "Jim" was born in Bismarck, ND on March 14, 1920. His family then moved to Red Wing, MN where his education was interrupted by World War II. He joined the United States Air Corp., and after earning his wings, was assigned to the Walnut Ridge Air Base where he was a flight instructor. There he met and married the love of his life, Mary Frances Burke, and soon after was transferred to Randolph Field in San Antonio, TX as an instrument instructor. After the war, the Bracketts returned to Pocahontas where he entered business with his mother-in-law, Mary Burke, in Burke's Specialty Shop. He was active in civic affairs, serving as President for the Pocahontas Rotary Club where he was designated a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a former president of the Pocahontas Chamber of Commerce and the St. Paul Home School Association. He also served on the board of Pocahontas Federal Savings and Loan, was a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus and was elected to the Supreme Board of Directors of that organization in 1970. Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Mary Frances, two children, Burke Brackett and his wife, Kristi, of Rogers, and Melanie Orintas and her husband, Richard, of Little Rock, his grandchildren, Evan Lawrence and Joel and Grace Brackett of Rogers, Debbie Teague and her husband, Michael, of Little Rock, Richard J. "Bo" Orintas, Jr. of Houston, and two great-grandchildren, Tucker and Abby Teague of Little Rock. Jim was Mary Frances' best friend and the most wonderful father children could ever have. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. The family would like to thank the devoted health professionals for their loving care of our beloved "Papa". Dr. Andrew Jansen and Sarah Counts of Pocahontas, the staff of Randolph County Medical Center, and Dr. Jeffrey Cohen and Alicia Owens, Jennifer Bowles, and Dr. Michael Suminski of Jonesboro. Visitation will be 5-7 pm Sunday at McNabb Funeral Home with a rosary following at 7 pm. A celebration of Jim's life and funeral Mass will be held at 11 am Monday at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Msgr. J. Gaston Hebert officiating. Interment will follow in St. Paul's Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to St. Paul's Church in Pocahontas.