James L. "Buster" Cheatham, age 91 of Malvern, died Tuesday evening, May 15, 2012 in the Hot Spring County Medical Center. He was born in Rolla , Arkansas on June 25, 1920 to the late Allen Edwin Cheatham and Myrtle Borland Cheatham. Reared and educated in Hot Spring County, he was a foreman at Reynolds Metals Company for a number of years, and also worked for Ormet Corporation. He was a Baptist by denomination, and was a World War 2 Army veteran, having served in the Aleutian Islands and Germany . Buster was the husband of Garnelle Funk Clifton Cheatham, to whom he was married on April 13, 2002. .

He is survived by his wife, Garnelle, of the home; by his step-children, Mary Etta and Dan Blasingame, Sharon Combs, and James E. and Jeanie Clifton, all of Malvern; a brother, A. E. (Charlie) and Irene Cheatham of Malvern; six step-grandchildren, Michael and Daniel Blasingame, Alesa Lambert, April Mullen, Connie Clifton, and Kathy Draper; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Buster was also preceded in death by a brother, Aubrey Cheatham, a sister, Agee Cummings, a step-grandson, James Paul Clifton, and his first wife, Nina Cheatham.

His funeral will be Thursday, May 17, 2012 at four o'clock in the afternoon in the chapel of J. A. Funk Funeral Home with Brothers Donis Smead and Maxie Haynes officiating. Interment will follow in Rockport Cemetery .

A visitation will precede the service beginning at three o'clock.

Pallbearers are: Daniel Blasingame, Michael Blasingame, Raymond Cheatham, Thurman Cheatham, Jacob Lambert, and James E. Clifton.

Honorary pallbearers are: Aiden Lambert, Dewey Lambert, Dr. Ray Bollen, and Jim Gordon.

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.