James Allen York

James Allen York, the oldest son of Clara Nadene Goodbar York Vansandt and Thomas Monroe York, Jr., was born February 21, 1924 and passed away February 17, 2017 at the age of 92 years and 361 days. Jim was reared in a God-fearing family in the Archie, Missouri community and made a profession of faith at the age of nine. He graduated from Archie High School in 1941. Jim York married Betty June Highley on September 6, 1942 and they celebrated their 61 st wedding anniversary on September 6, 2003. Jim served in the United States Army during World War II in the Engineer Corps and was stationed for a time on an outlying island off the Alaskan coast building infrastructure for the U.S. Army. He is a member and regular attendee of the First Baptist Church in Bolivar since 1961 and has served his church in a variety of areas including teaching Sunday School, financial planning, and budget committees. Jim moved to the Bolivar community in 1961 to take the position of Polk and Webster County Baptist Associational Missionary after serving as pastor in a number of small churches south of Kansas City including Amsterdam Baptist Church. He remained in this position until 1968 when he joined the development staff at Southwest Baptist College. As past President and active member of the Bolivar Optimist Club since 1962, Jim initiated, participated in and supported the many community activities sponsored by the Optimists. In 2012, Jim was named Optimist of the Year. An avid fisherman, Jim enjoyed frequent fishing expeditions to Roaring River and other area fishing holes. Even after his retirement in 1989, Jim remains active in civic projects serving Bolivar and the surrounding areas. One of his special projects was Enterprises Unlimited, the sheltered workshop providing employment for persons with disabilities. In addition to serving for numerous terms on Enterprises' Board, Jim has been a faithful contributor in support of Enterprise Unlimited. After the death of his wife, Jim donated a substantial sum in her memory to Enterprises Unlimited and the June York Sheltered Workshop, serving approximately 120 persons with disabilities throughout the area \ Jim York was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas York and Clara York Vansandt, one sister Mildred Jean Sliffe and one brother Richard Monroe York. He is survived by two daughters: Sandra York Woods of Bolivar; Linda, York York and husband Wayne of Marshfield; one son: James Allen York II and wife Shirel of Overland Park, Kansas; 7 grandchildren: Donna Woods and husband Tim Hornbrook, Richard Woods and wife Carrisann, David York and wife Terri; Andrew York and wife Amy, Elisabeth York and fiancee Danny Turnbow; James York III and wife Taylor, and Michael York; 7 great-granddaughters: Abbey and Hannah Woods, Marilyn, Clara, and Elisabeth Grace Woods, Katelyn and Kelsey York, and 2 great-grandsons: John York and James Woods; one sister Mary Graim and husband Jack, one sister-in-law Ruth York, many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Jim was a man with a giving and forgiving heart. Even in his last years spent in the nursing home with limited mobility, Jim never voiced a complaint and continued his contributions to a variety of worthy causes. Jim has gone home to meet his God and Be reunited with his beloved wife, June. He will be accompanied by the love and prayers of his family and many, many friends. He would want us to remind you to be generous to those less fortunate and to let your actions demonstrate that generosity. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, February 20, 2017 at the First Baptist church in Bolivar, MO. Visitation will take place Monday morning from 9:30 AM to service time. Burial will take place in the Crescent Hill Cemetery in Adriane, MO. In lieu of Flowers the family suggest memorial contributions be made to the Heifer International or to CBF Heartland.

James Allen York

February 21, 1924 - February 17, 2017