DECATUR — It was a sad day in Decatur when the townspeople received news of the passing of one of its beloved citizens.
Charles David Linam, who served as Decatur mayor from 2011-2014, died at 2:47 p.m., May 25, after suffering a massive heart attack while engaging in one of his favorite pastimes, fishing. He was 75.
Linam suffered the heart attack while fishing on Beaver Lake May 22. CPR was administered by his fishing partner en route to meet paramedics on shore. He was rushed to Mercy Medical Center in Rogers where he later died.
Linam, the son of Jewel and Irene Flanerty Linam, was born Nov. 6, 1941, in Jonesboro. On Jan. 18, 1985, Linam was married to the love of his life, Tasha Kemp, and continued to live in Decatur until his death.
During his time as mayor of Decatur, Linam was responsible for the land acquisition and construction on Seventh Street between Hill and Buckner Avenues which eventually became the Royce Johnson Memorial Park. He was also responsible for the rededicating of McCollum Park, a small, shaded picnic area located just east of the Edmiston Park ball concession area.
Linam was responsible for the reduction of Decatur's portion of the Benton County Court West cost and the Benton County judges retirement fund, which saved the city more than $7,000.
Before becoming mayor, Linam served on the Decatur City Council. He was also a member of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce. After leaving the mayor's position in 2015, Linam served on the Decatur Housing Authority board.
Until his death, Linam was a substitute teacher and a bus driver for the Decatur School system and an avid Decatur Bulldog fan.
A memorial service for Charles Linam will be held at 2 p.m., June 10, at the Decatur United Methodist Church in Decatur, where he and Tasha were both members.
Linam's full obituary is on Page A2.
General News on 05/31/2017