James Moore

SIKESTON — James "Jim" Edwin Moore, 73, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in the comfort of his home.

James was born to Harry Edward "Ed" and Alma Alice Moore in the fall of 1950. His young life was filled with farming, fishing, caring for his brother and mother, and working with his father in the television business.

After graduating from Jackson High School in 1969, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended Nashville Auto Diesel College and met Tina Smith. The two were baptized into Boulevard Seventh-day Adventist Church on Feb. 27, 1977, and married July 16, 1978.

James dedicated his life to God's glory, working as a lay pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church throughout the Kentucky-Tennessee and Iowa-Missouri conferences. He was also involved with Pathfinders for 41 years, serving as staff, director, and area coordinator for Georgia-Cumberland, Kentucky-Tennessee and, most recently, Iowa-Missouri Pathfinders.

James suffered from Alzheimer's in the last decade of his life and left church leadership in 2018, but he still managed to read, write and share the Gospel every chance he got. Those who knew him would say his life's work was sharing the Gospel and that he did it until the end. James would say his greatest accomplishment in life was getting sober after a decadeslong alcohol addiction. His family would say his legacy is the faithfulness he showed them through the years. For so many, James was the first call in an emergency. He would spend days or weeks helping someone cut winter wood, plow a field, build a shelf or clean up after a disaster. His sons and daughter will remember him with laughter and reverence, as he was both absurd and brilliant. His grandchildren will remember fishing, baking cookies from scratch and laughing at their inside jokes. His wife will remember a lifetime of love and partnership.

James was preceded in death by his brother, Jerry; father, Ed; and mother, Alma.

He is survived by his wife, Tina; sons, Benjamin (Katy) Moore and Joseph (Melissa) Moore; daughter, Rachel (Thor) Ashworth; and nine grandchildren, Josiah, Chloe, Noah and Adina Moore; River and Avery Moore; and Mikhail, Abel and Mark Ashworth.

Family and friends are invited to visit from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at Morgan Funeral Home in Advance.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Peace Point Chapel Seventh-Day Adventist Church, c/o Tina Moore, 846 N. Ranney St., Sikeston, MO 63801.