James Alva “Al” Stutts, Jr. died at his rural Dexter home on November 23, 2013 at the age of 84.

He was born on December 27, 1928 to Lora Ethel McCain Stutts and James Alva Stutts, Sr. in Hector, Arkansas.  The Stutts family moved to Dexter when Al was 14.

Al married Veleta Frances Pierce on May 24, 1949 at the Stutts home in Dexter.  They were married for 64 years.

He served in the Air Force from 1951 to 1953.  He later worked as a civilian flight instructor for the Air Force at Malden Air Force Base and Bainbridge Army Airfield until 1961.

Al was a farmer, a pilot and an adventurer.  He and Veleta purchased land in Belize, then known as British Honduras, along with several other families.  In 1967, the Stutts family moved to British Honduras where Al built roads, runways,  harvested mahogany and prepared the land for planting.  He also managed a banana and orange grove.  Al and Veleta visited Belize many times over the years and built lasting friendships.

Al was a member of First Baptist Church of Dexter and served as a deacon.  He was a member of Rotary, served as president, and helped host international visitors.

Al is survived by one son and wife Mark and Charlotte Stutts of Essex, a daughter Lisa Stutts of Dexter, a daughter and husband Debra and Mike Ebner, and a granddaughter Jacqueline Owens of Wake Forest, North Carolina.  He was predeceased by his wife, Veleta Stutts.

Visitation will be Monday November 26 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Rainey Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.  Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday November 27 at 11:00 with Dr. Steven Easterwood officiating.  Interment will follow at the Chalk Bluff Cemetery, south of Dexter.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Chalk Bluff Cemetery.