Jim Price — No. 12

Post date: Dec 19, 2017 3:09:10 AM

James Ray Hardy “Jim” Price of Van Buren, Mo., died Nov. 26, 2017, in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 84. He was a member of the Veterans Club at then-Arkansas State College and became a founding member of the Lambda Chi Alpha chapter, taking Iota Theta Zeta number 12.

Jim was a native of Paragould, Ark., son of John Earl Hardy, Orville Price and Dale Price. He moved to Van Buren when he was 5 years old and graduated from Van Buren High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955.After the military he graduated from A-State. He married Gwendolyn Wilson in 1955 in Van Buren, and they raised two children.Jim was an educator in Van Buren and Ellington and a U.S. Forest Service employee, serving at the Poplar Bluff Job Corps; Mark Twain National Forest in Springfield; Hiawatha National Forest in Escanaba, Mich.; Prescott National Forest in Prescott, Ariz.; Huron Manistee National Forest in Cadillac, Mich.; and Tonto National Forest in Phoenix, where he was the administrative officer for the last eight years before he retired and moved back to Van Buren.He served on the Carter County Senior Center Board, Carter County Public Library Board, and the Carter County Health Center Board.He became a Christian when he was 8 years old and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Van Buren, Mo.In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, James Marshall Price and Patti Vessels of Van Buren; a daughter, Marsha Dawn Price of Poplar Bluff; and four grandchildren, Ryan Feldhauser of Kingsley, Mich., Ashley Feldhauser of Springfield, Mo., Tarin Rhoads and Jamie Price, both of West Plains, Mo., and their spouses; three great –grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Bob Price; a niece, Liz Riney; a nephew, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter-in-law, Stephanie Price.

A graveside service was held on Friday, Dec. 1, in the Van Buren City Cemetery. The Rev. Ron Robinson officiated.

Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com.