Jim Whitehead

WYATT, Mo. — James Farmer “Jim” Whitehead, 73, died May 4, 2019, at his home in Wyatt.  

Born May 24, 1945, at Charleston, son of the late William Carl Whitehead and Lucy Pauline Farmer Whitehead, he worked in the cotton gin. He worked several other jobs in Brawley, Calif. He worked for 7UP and Pepsi, but mostly for the potato chip snack food company, Laura Scudders. He eventually took over the franchise in the Imperial Valley for many years until he returned to Missouri. He was then employed with Gates Rubber Co. in Charleston until his retirement.

On May 19, 1965, he married Lela Josephine Brown, who preceded him in death on Sept. 30, 2007.

Surviving are his sons, James F. (Maria) Whitehead and Steven B. (Marisa) Whitehead of Brawley; four brothers, William C. “Bill” Whitehead Jr., of Emporia, Va., George Irvin Whitehead of Olean and Benjamin A. Whitehead and Robert A. Whitehead of Charleston; and four grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Frank Russell Whitehead, Charles D. Whitehead, Arthur Jesse Whitehead, Richard W. Whitehead and John D. Whitehead; and three sisters, Carla Jo Knaup, Jenny Lee Wedeking and Nancy Susan Risko.

Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. May 14 at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Burial will follow in the IOOF Cemetery near Charleston.

Pallbearers will be: Steven Whitehead, James Whitehead, Jr., Bob Whitehead, Ben Whitehead, Brandon Sickling and Steve Oakley.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com