Jim Callaway (Deceased), Las Vegas, NV Nevada

In Memory

Jim Callaway

James A Callaway

April 24, 1947 – January 24, 2022

Jim "Doc" Callaway, a Las Vegas native, local dentist, coach, artist, husband, dad, and grandpa passed away peacefully in his home on January 24, 2022 from complications of Parkinson's dementia.

He is survived by his wife and soulmate, Theresa, his seven children and their spouses: Casey (Jenn), Bonnie (Damon), Danny, Ziandra (Michael), Connery, Zabrina (Harley), Maddie, his twelve grandchildren: Amari, Kya, Ayana, Lex, Kaili, Everly, Quinn, Lilly, Daisy, Zander, Poppy, Capri, and his two sisters: Laurel and Milli, and many other loving family members and friends.

He is preceded by his parents, Kathlyn (Kitty) and Albert Callaway, and his sister, Barbara.

Jim was born in Las Vegas on April 24, 1947 to Albert and Kitty. Little Jimmy was the baby of the family and only brother to his three older sisters.

He attended Fifth Street Grammar School and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1965, went on to attend college at University of Nevada Reno and joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon and graduated in 1969. He graduated dental school Summa Cum Laude at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry in 1973 then went on to become one of the top cosmetic dentists in Las Vegas. He was the team dentist for UNLV then was inducted into their hall of fame for his 38+ years of service. He was able to work on many local athletes, celebrities, family, and friends, and is lovingly referred to as Doc.

Jim was known as an artist having a tooth drill in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. Dentistry was an art for him, but one of his greatest passions was oil painting. He specialized in Native American portraits, but also painted many family portraits and flowers for Theresa. His paintings have been featured in galleries all across the country.

He was a lifelong sports fan, especially baseball, playing through his youth, coaching all of his sons in little league for over 25 years, and rooting for any team that Greg Maddux was playing for. He is remembered by many for coming to their sporting events to cheer them on. He loved to be involved in any way he could to show that he cared.

Jim was extremely active in his community. He was a member of the Lion's Club in the 80's. He was in the Southern Nevada Gem and Mineral Society. He has been a board member of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame for over 20 years. He was a faithful member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and made many lifelong friends along the way.

He loved to cook and spoil his family with their favorite meals for birthdays, special events, and Sunday dinners. His favorite ingredients were brown sugar, Dr. Pepper, butter, garlic salt, and seasoned salt.

Some of his other hobbies included rock work, lapidary and jewelry making, weekly date nights with Theresa, and trips to Laguna Beach.

His grandkids know him as Papa and loved him for his Donald Duck voice and goofy faces. They will miss being able to be silly with him.

Jim was a fighter. He survived three heart attacks and one open heart surgery. He suffered with Parkinson's Disease for 12 years, but continued to paint, make jewelry, cook, and stay as busy as possible. Anyone who knows him could see how hard working, dedicated, and driven he was even with the illnesses that he faced.

He truly was a superhero in our lives and we're grateful for the impact he left on all of us. He will be deeply missed.

Services will be held on February 1, 2022 at 1801 S Monte Cristo Way, Las Vegas, NV 89117. At 4 pm there will be an open time to greet the family and offer condolences. The memorial services will begin at 5 pm. Virtual services will be offered.

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02/05/22 07:58 PM

Craig Jolley

Jim and I were pals at Fremont, sometimes played lunch basketball on the blacktop courts behind the shop classes. Rather than camping under the basket with his height he preferred to stay out on the perimeter for his top-of-the-key jump shot. He once suffered a momentary lapse in judgment, perpetrated some mischief with a troubled kid, but put that stuff behind him after the two were forbidden to associate with each other. We sat next to each other in Mr. Priest's 2nd period algebra class where we exchanged homework instead of passing our papers to the kid in front of us during correction time. Sometimes one of us would come to class without finishing the problems, but we did what was necessary to complete the work since it had to be turned in.

Bonus fashion coverage:

Jim was fastidious about clothes, educated me about style, brand, cut. Shirts with button-down collars, preferably striped, solid color, or madras, definitely no patterns. Ban-lon knit shirts (stitching under the arm) also in the mix. Brown, black, light-green, white, or dark-blue Levi's. Belt loops and leather label removed. Folded under (French cuffs) if necessary. Beltless continental pants with a tab across the front. Elastic side adjusters optional, no pleats, pockets straight across the front. Solid color socks, dark, usually black, depending on shoes. Shoes pointed toe San Remos with 2" heels (lift actually only 1 1/4"). Spanish or Italian boots, elastic in the sides), also with 2" heels. Polished every day with Propert's shoe polish. For a time we rated every guy in class including Mr. Priest in clothes, max 10 points each for shirt, pants, shoes. Continentals with side pockets might rate a 6, further reduced to a 4 with cuffs. Button-down shirt cut back to 7 without the 1" center pleat in back. Extra credit for the little hanger over the pleat. Mr. Priest once showed up in a great button-down, collar button and pleat centered in back, but we knocked him down to a 7 1/2 because he rolled up his sleeves.

Summer of '62 was a turning point: I grew 5" so my pants were all too short to wear to LVHS. And Phyllis Nelson, Steve's older sister came back from her freshman year in college, became my mentor in fashion and romance. She decreed the college boy look was in. Looser pants with side pockets, belt loops, cuffs, held up by wide belts. Big round-toed brogues with low heels, shirts the same as before, pull-over sweaters in colder months. Wide ties instead of narrow. She tried to help me with girls ("just be yourself"), but I was painfully shy, managed one date the entire year.

Looking back I regret someone didn't take me aside and tell me what to wear together, what clashes. Even today I am color-challenged, no real idea.

Jim and I occasionally discussed girls, often in terms of physical attributes. Not sure who he was attracted to though he sometimes mentioned Karen Calvin or Debbie Rodrigue. I was sweet on Kay Neustrom but understood she was out of my league, no serious aspirations there.

Linda Jones and Jim were recognized as the most talented art students of our LVHS class. They sometimes stayed after school to work on projects, developed a friendship Jim hoped would include romance, but Linda was going with Pat Dibble. I am also close to Linda which Jim knew, and he would ask me about her at class reunions or at his dentist office on St. Louis. My cousin Dwayne Ence, our family dentist, was partners with Jim. Dwayne considered Jim a good dentist, but believed Jim's real calling was painting.

For those who know Jim Gubler (class of '66) Jim C. was equally sarcastic (and hilarious), but for both it takes some getting used to. Actually there is no cruelty in either man, both nice guys at heart.

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