James Russell of Naylor will observe his 90th birthday Monday, June 1.
Russell and his wife, Audrey “Ruth,” have been married 71 years.
Their four children are James Michael, Debbie, David and Mark, who passed away in 2018. They have many, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, who live across the country.
His daughter-in-law Tammy L. Russell of Centerville, Michigan, was married to Mark.
She explained “with the COVID-19 crisis, many of us who would love to be with him are unable to travel to celebrate in person.”
She asked his milestone birthday appear in the Daily American Republic newspaper because “James and his wife read every edition of the newspaper and have for decades.”
She continued by saying, “Happy 90th birthday. We are so proud to call you Dad and Papa. We wish we could be with you in person to celebrate the countless ways you have touched our lives and the lives of so many. We love you more than we can express in words. May your day be joyous and blessed.”
The Russells are lifelong followers of Christ, belonging to the Apostolic Pentecostal church. They are members of Oxly Pentecostal Church. Born and raised in rural Missouri, the couple raised their children in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
They returned “home” to Naylor to retire, said Tammy Russell.
“James is an avid handyman and gardener. He is known for being able to make, build and create anything he sets his sights on,” Tammy Russell said. “Even at this age, he built himself a greenhouse and continues to raise pigeons. He has always been the most kind, loving and generous man. When visiting, the grandchildren most look forward to taking tractor rides with grandpa. Anyone James meets feels like they’ve known him forever.”