James Keith Moreland

James Keith Moreland, born December 14, 1933, passed away July 4, 2026, in Shreveport, Louisiana. His life was full of the things he loved. He adored his family all the time. He helped everyone at any time in any way he could. He was more than a servant. He believed in family being the center of his life until the very end, as he was surrounded by his family when his Heavenly Father called him home.

Born to Dewey and Lula Moreland, he lost his daddy as a young child when he was 9. His stepfather passed when James was in his early 20’s. He and Bonnie took care of his mother until she went into the nursing home. He helped and visited his aunts and uncles very frequently because it was just his nature.

James married Bonnie Mae Cearley on April 10, 1953. Their baby girl, Karen, entered their lives in 1972. Bonnie said the whole town threw a baby shower. After 43 years of married bliss, lots of road trips with family, tons of laughter around the table with her family whom he adored, Bonnie Mae went to Heaven on March 1, 1997.

James was lonely. Some of his friends knew a lady who would be interested in a fine Christian man with high moral standards. James went to cash a check at “Miss Barbara’s” bank to check her out. The next night, he called asking her on a date. Naturally, he took her to a fish place for their first date, where they spent the whole evening talking about their children and grandchildren. They dated about nine months before he proposed to her. They were married on April 17, 1999, and enjoyed 27 wonderful years together.

James mainly worked as a security guard at various places in Springhill, Waldo, and Stamps. He also painted houses. After “retiring,” he found his true calling at A.O. Smith Funeral Home, loving and serving people during their difficult times through visitations and services for close to 20 years. It was not a job for him; it was another home where friends and family met. He made sure there was fresh pot of coffee at the funeral home, greeted all who came through those doors, made sure they were each comforted in their grieving, and even gave the best hugs to those who needed it. James never met a stranger. He took pride in what he did and was the best at that job. Thank you, Smith family, for letting this jewel be part of your family. It meant the world to him to serve in this capacity.

When not spending time with family or working, James could be found fishing or deer hunting. He kept a log of his fishing trips for several decades. He could tell you the seasons when the fish were going to bite or not from the notes he had in Moreland’s Almanac. It was pretty accurate according to this fishing legend. However, the legend was NOT going to tell exactly where the fish were biting. A true fisherman does not reveal his honey hole.

Those left to cherish James’ legacy are his wife of 27 years, Barbara Moreland, his loving daughter Karen (Jimmy), and bonus children Greg (Carol), Terry (Mark), and Chad (Becky). The cherished grandchildren include Mallory, Shannon, Carlton, Katie, Claire Beth, Caroline, Tell, Torey, Trent, & Lindsey. They have 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He has dearly loved nieces, nephews, and his Minter cousins as well.

He is preceded in death by his parents, in-laws James & Carrie Cearley, Mrs. Baker, and one grandson, Trevor Williams.

Pallbearers are Richard Belk, Dustin Cearley, Gene Cearley, John Force, Robert Matthews, and Roger York. Honorary pallbearer is Don Pritchett.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. at A O Smith Funeral Home in Stamps, AR, with visitation prior to beginning at 1 p.m. Rev. Michael Kornegay (grandson-in-law) and Bro. Mike Turner will officiate the funeral, with interment to follow at Lakeside Cemetery under the direction of A.O. Smith Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at https://www.cff.org/donate or First Baptist Church of Stamps.