James Eslie King passed away on March 29, 2024, at the age of 94, at Valley View Nursing home in Junction City Kansas.
Jim was born on December 22, 1929 in Kansas City, Missouri, to Nealy Wade King and Josephine Stafford Holt. He married Jean Marie Green on August 4, 1951 in Evansville, Indiana while Jim was stationed at Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky. They shared 73 years together and were the parents of two sons.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his son, James Michael (Mike) King, his brother, Burke Holt, and his sister’s June Waters and Wanda Shepherd.
Jim is survived by his wife, Jean, his son, Rodney King (Leta) of Junction City, Kansas, granddaughters, Jasmine Stewart (Mike), Michelle King, and Emily King, his grandson’s Brian and Jeffery and his great grandchildren, Audrienna Stewart, Alaina Stewart, Colton Stewart and Julian King, all of Junction City, Kansas and his sister, Patricia Feugate, of Kansas City, Kansas.
Jim entered the United States Army in December of 1951 and served for 20 years retiring April 30, 1971 at Fort Riley, Kansas. Jim received a bronze star medal and several other awards during his time in the army. During Jim’s time in the army, he was stationed in Germany two different times with the family. Jim, Jean and their sons would take trips every chance they were able to, driving to Italy and the Netherlands and attending Oktoberfests. At one time in Germany, Jim’s company was on a rotation in Berlin for 2 to 3 months during the holidays. Jean and the boys rode a train to visit Jim for Thanksgiving and Christmas that year.
During Jim’s time in the army, he was deployed to Korea in 1951. While stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, Jim was deployed to Vietnam and upon his return from Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. He stayed there for about three months and put in to retire at Fort Riley, Kansas where Jim and Jean had a home.
Upon Jim’s retirement from the army, he worked in civil service at Fort Riley, Kansas for 20 years. Jim and Jean purchased a home in Milford, Kansas. While living near the lake, Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating and mushroom hunting. Jim passed his love of mushroom hunting and fishing down to his sons. The family enjoyed summers at Milford Lake in the pontoon boat. There were many Sunday dinners with the family enjoyed at the house in Milford.
In 1981, Jim, Jean, Mike, Rodney, Leta, Jasmine and Michelle took a trip in Jim’s motor home to California and Oregon to visit family. There were other trips in the motor home to Macks Creek, Missouri where they would all travel for family reunions.
Him and Jean lived in Milford, Kansas until 2015 when they moved back to Junction City to be closer to Rodney where Jim remained until his final days.
Visitation: Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Funeral Service: Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.
Hedgdes Scott Millard Funeral Homes
14384 US-54
Macks Creeks, Missouri 65786