James "Jim" Robert Augustus

James “Jim” Robert Augustus, 77, of Cushman, AR, passed away 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 this was pretty cool to see him on the big screen.

Jim’s other assignments were with the staffs of Commander, Operational Test and

Evaluation Force; Commander in Chief, US Atlantic Command; and Commander in

Chief, US Atlantic Fleet Command.

Commander Augustus has been the recipient of several military awards: 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, clearing land, cutting firewood,

and spending 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.