VAN BUREN, Mo. - James Ray Hardy "Jim" Price of Van Buren, Mo., died Nov. 26, 2017 in Poplar Bluff, Mo. He was 84. He became a Christian when he was eight years old and was a member of the First Baptist Church, Van Buren, Mo.
Jim, as he was known to family and friends, was a native of Paragould, Ark., and son of John Earl Hardy, Orville Price, and Dale Price. He moved to Van Buren when he was five years old. He graduated from Van Buren High School in 1951. He served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1955.
After the military, he graduated from Arkansas State College, now Arkansas State University. He married Gwendolyn Wilson in 1955 in Van Buren, Mo., and 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, Poplar Bluff, Mo.; Mark Twain National Forest, Springfield, Mo.; Hiawatha National Forest, Escanaba, Mich.; Prescott National Forest, Prescott, Ariz.; Huron Manistee National Forest, Cadillac, Mich.; and Tonto National Forest, Phoenix, Ariz. where he was the Administrative Officer for the last eight years before he retired and moved back to Van Buren.
Jim served on the Carter County Senior Center Board, Carter County Public Library Board, and the Carter County Health Center Board.
In addition to his wife, Jim is survived by one son, James Marshall Price and Patti Vessels of Van Buren, one daughter, Marsha Dawn Price of Poplar Bluff and four grandchildren, Tarin Rhoads, West Plains, Mo.; Jamie Price, West Plains; Ryan Feldhauser, Kingsley, Mich.; Ashley Feldhauser, Springfield, Mo. and their spouses, three great -grandchildren, Hailey Rhoads, Allison Rhoads and Carson Price, three sisters-in-law, Jane Roam (Frank), Jessie Kincaid, Jackie Vanatta, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Bob Price, a nephew, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter-in-law, Stephanie Price.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, December 1 at 11 a.m. in the Van Buren City Cemetery.
Online condolences: www.mcspaddenfh.com
Paid