John F. James

Thursday, December 22, 2005

ESSEX - John Frank James, son of the late Robert and Myrtle Tankersley James, was born at Obion, Tenn., on Oct. 27, 1930, and passed away at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston on Dec. 17, 2005, at the age of 75 years.

Mr. James had lived in Essex for the past 29 years. He was a retired backhoe operator and enjoyed playing the guitar and was a member of the Senior Country Band which played for many area nursing homes.

On Dec. 11, 1972, in Bell City, he was married to Wanda Cochran.

Survivors include: his wife, Wanda James of the home in Essex; seven daughters and two sons-in-law, Kristi and Billy Petty of Essex, Vickie and Rick Rigdon of Decatur, Ill., Kay Fox of Christopher, Ill., Patsy Cabe of Macon, Ill., Leda Shelton of Mount Vernon, Ill., Loretta Craft of Bernie and Glenda Kay Null of Poplar Bluff; two stepdaughters, Carolyn Dodson of Matthews and Beverly Crowden, address unknown; two stepsons, Donnie Crowden of Benton and Cliff Crowden of Sikeston; one brother, Joe James of Buellton, Calif., a granddaughter, Brittany Petty of Essex; and many other grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Other relatives and many friends survive to mourn his passing.

He was preceded in death by a daughter Lorna James and two sisters, Louise Pettigrew and Estelle James.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Walker Cemetery with Chiles-Cooper Funeral Home of Bloomfield in charge of all arrangements.

Paid obituary