Hadley James

ARBOR, Mo. -- Hadley James, 76, of Arbor went home to be with Jesus Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by his family.

He was born Aug. 13, 1933, in Bollinger County, son of Henry E. and Annie Frances James. He returned to Arbor in 1995.

Hadley retired from Joliet Army Ammunition Plant/Uniroyal Chemical in Joliet, Ill. He also worked as a mechanic at Sears in Kankakee, Ill.

Hadley attended church regularly at both Lake Girardeau Assembly of God and Free Trinity Pentecostal Church in Randles.

He and Jane Menz were married July 12, 1949, at Randles, and she survives. The couple had three daughters and a son.

Survivors are daughters and son-in-law, Debby (Larry) Story of Advance, Mo., Kathy Smith of Bradley, Ill., Joan Kezer of Columbia, Mo.; five grandchildren, Michael Whisker and Becky Sherman of Semmes, Ala., Jason Smith and James Smith of Bradley, Joshua Kezer of Columbia; 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Hank; his parents; two brothers, John "Muck" James and Charles "Toot" James.

Hadley was a fun-loving, hardworking, faithful, deeply respected, loving husband, adored father, cherished popaw, brother and uncle.

We will always miss him, but we have much comfort in knowing he is happy and whole in the arms of Jesus eternally! We will see him real soon. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. Hadley, being absent from his body, is now present with the Lord.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. Wednesday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Mo., where the funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. Don Leggett, the Rev. Mark Claunch and Joshua Kezer officiating. Burial will be in Kenyon Cemetery near Delta.