Jimmy Franklin James

Jimmy Franklin James, son of the late Lonnie Harold and Janet Irene (VanLaningham) James, was born on September 6, 1954, in Kansas City, Missouri, and passed suddenly at his home in Mountain Grove, Missouri, on November 30, 2015. He was 61 years, 2 months, and 24 days of age.
Jimmy knew love throughout life, and although he never had children of his own, he cherished the life moments of his nieces and nephews. Jimmy graduated high school in Kansas City, Missouri, before moving with his family to what is now Branson West, Missouri. During his youth, Jimmy enjoyed good times with his cousins, brothers by blood and brothers by marriage. Jimmy moved to Mountain Grove in 1990 after the passing of his father. Being the oldest of seven children, he felt it was his obligation to watch over the rest of the family.
Jimmy worked in various occupations throughout life, most recently beaming with pride over the title of assistant supervisor, working with individuals with special needs, and to the person who gave him that chance, THANK YOU. Jimmy enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching scary movies, but his favorite pastime was playing solitaire. He loved reading his Bible on a daily basis, going to his sisters house on weekends to watch T.V., and visiting with his neighbors, Willie and Lana Nelson, who throughout his time here, treated him like part of their family as well.
Jimmy was a Christian man. He was saved, baptized, and rededicated his life to our Lord several times. He battled alcohol dependency most of his life, and would speak of his numerous struggles to stop drinking, warning the rest of us that it was no way to live. Being addicted young in life, remembering getting drunk at the age of 14 under the supervision of his uncles, not knowing then what a horrible addiction he would fight throughout the rest of his time on this earth.
Jimmy was an early to bed and early to rise kind of guy. He found humor in some of the craziest things. He had cynical moments just as we all do, and as with life, he sometimes didnt view things as others thought he should. But he was our big brother with the most tender of hearts, and was willing to give the last that he had to a person he thought deserved it more. He came into this life humble, and went to Heaven just the same. Our hearts are saddened and flooded by thoughts of should have done this or should have done that. This worldly race never really mattered to him, and we can smile through the tears knowing he is no longer tied to the pain and toiling of this earth, but has the promised eternity in a place where no reservation can be made, no purchase receipted, but simply accepting, believing, and confessing for a debt that has already been paid. Where the jewels in his crown shine with splendor and his humbleness is laid by grace at our Saviors feet.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8
Besides his parents, Jimmy was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his sister: Alice Pickle Perrine in 2005, his only brother: Lonnie Wayne in 2009, several aunts, uncles, and distant family.
Jimmy is survived by his step-dad: Earl Baker of Cabool, Missouri, four sisters: Linda (James) Shannon, Norma (Mike) Lorraine, Debbie Blair, Kathy (Tony) Ipock all of Mountain Grove, Missouri, good friend: Carl Norton, nephews: Clyde (Tabitha) Pickle of Noel, Missouri, Michael Pickle of Jay Oklahoma, Joshua Pickle of Joplin, Missouri, Keith (Stephanie) Lorraine of West Frankfort, Illinois, Mathew (Deanna) Lorraine of Mountain Grove, Missouri, Carl Jr. (Carla) Blair or North Dakota, nieces: Tonya (Scott) Anderson of Norwood, Missouri, Janet Blair and significant other, Steve, of Parker Colorado, Alicia (Chris) Williams of Harker, Texas, Tracy (Ben) Zigmanthis of Summersville, Missouri, Kelsie (Jacob) Ownes of Mountain Grove, Missouri Samantha, Alexis, and Brooke Ipock of Mountain Grove, Missouri, and several great-nephews and great-nieces.