J.R. James

SIKESTON - Jacob Rance James Jr., 85, died at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 6, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Born March 24, 1918, in Kennett, son of the late Jacob Rance James Sr. and Ella Mae Davis James, he graduated in 1938 from Kewanee High School. He owned J.R. James Real Estate Company in Sikeston and was a member of Shady Acres Church of Christ where he served in various duties in the congregation. In 1958, he was appointed as deacon, serving in that capacity until 1961, when he was appointed as an elder and served the Lord's church diligently until Aug. 3, 1986, when he resigned from the work.

James served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II as a B-29 bomber aerial gunner with the 67th Bomber Squadron of the 44th Bomber Group. He received the Victory Ribbon, American Theatre Ribbon and Good Conduct Medal.

On May 16, 1941, at Flat River, he married Velma Ruth Hinton who survives of the home in Sikeston.

Other survivors include: one daughter and son-in-law, Sharon and Jim Elliott of Sikeston; three brothers, Van H. James of Crawfordsville, Ind., Mitchell C. James of White Hall, Ill., and Harold B. James of Tracy, Calif.; two sisters, Ruth Lively of Dexter and June Gettings of Anderson, Calif.; one grandson and his wife, Jay and Jennifer Elliott of Sikeston; one granddaughter and her husband, Leigh and Dan Holland of Sikeston; and one great-grandson, Jesse Holland of Sikeston.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, Carl B. James, Clyde R. James and Curtis O. James; and two sisters, Lora Johnson and Ruby Nuckols.

Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel.

Services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday at Shady Acres Church of Christ. Pat Hogan and Johnny Hester, ministers of the church, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston, where the Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard will conduct military rites.

Memorial contributions

may be sent to

Semo Christian Academy

1440 Ables Road

Sikeston, MO 63801

Paid obituary