James “Jim” Robert Augustus, 77, of Cushman, AR, passed away on December 18, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at home in Cushman.
He was born October 20, 1947, in Columbus, KS, to Robert Dean and Virginia Gore Augustus.
Commander Augustus graduated from CCRHS, Columbus, in 1965. He attended the University of Kansas, Lawrence, and graduated from Pittsburg State College (Pittsburg, KS) in 1969. He enlisted in the Naval Aviation Officers Candidate School at Pensacola, FL and was commissioned as an ensign. He received his “wings of gold” at Corpus Christi, TX and was designated a U.S. Naval Aviator. Approximately 15 years were spent as a pilot of the U.S. Navy’s P-3C Orion antisubmarine warfare aircraft. His overseas deployments included Bermuda, Iceland, Azores, Spain and Sicily. Two deployments were in the Mediterranean aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Nimitz, and as luck would have it, he was cast for a speaking role in the movie, The Final Countdown. We thought it was pretty cool to see him on the big screen.
Jim’s other assignments were with the staffs of the Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force; Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Command; and Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Fleet Command.
Commander Augustus has received several military awards, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Battle Efficiency Award, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Sea Service Deployment Award, Patrol Aircraft Commander, and Patrol Mission Commander.
On October 30, 1992, Jim retired from the United States Navy and shortly after that, he and his wife, Sue, moved to Arkansas, settled in Cushman, where he served on the Cushman City Council and worked as a water operator with the Cushman City Water Department.
Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, and especially carving and collecting duck decoys. He loved his little spot of heaven in Cushman, where he cleared land, cut firewood, and spent time with the many dogs that passed through his home.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother.
Survivors include his wife, Sue Mackey Augustus of the home; two daughters, Amy Marie Harlos (Paul), of Columbus, KS and Emily Jo Westergaard (Steve), of Pleasanton, CA; one sister, Rebecca Mayfield (Larry) of Hallsville, MO; three grandsons, Jackson Dean Harlos, Guy Leroy Westergaard and Ian James Westergaard; and many loving cousins, nieces and friends.
A special thank you to Dr. Atif Kahn and the Batesville Oncology Staff of White River Health, HomeInstead Services and Arkansas Hospice in Batesville, AR. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Arkansas Hospice – arkansashospice.org
There will be a small local gathering here in Cushman and a Celebration of Life in his hometown of Columbus, KS at later dates.
Arrangements by Qualls Batesville Funeral Service.
