James E. North

James E. North, age 68, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2009, at Golden Heights Living Center in Garnett, Kansas. James was born on October 2, 1940, in Carrol, Iowa, and was the sixth of ten children born to Sears Robert North and Olive Mae (Dowling) North. James was the oldest of the second set of twins. He had four brothers and five sisters. He went to grade school at Dow City, and Vail, Iowa. He graduated in 1959 from Dow City Arion Community School. In the fall of 1959, Jim went to Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which was later known as the University of Northern Iowa. In 1960, Jim transferred to Northeast Missouri State Teachers College, now known as Truman State University. In February of 1962, Jim went in the U.S. Navy, with Basic Training in San Diego, California, Missile Class "A" School in San Diego, then Advance Missile Class at Vallejo, California. After completing missile school, Jim was stationed aboard the USS Long Beach. After leaving the Navy, he returned to Kirksville to finish college. In May of 1960, Jim graduated from Northeast Missouri with a degree in Education, with a major in physical education and minor in math. Jim did his student teaching at Ottumwa High School in Iowa teaching 7th and 8th grade math, coached 7th grade basketball and was assistant wrestling coach. In 1970, Jim married Vivien Kay Adamson Losh. In August of that year, Jim and his family went to Chinle, Arizona, where they, Vivien and Jim, taught at Chinle Junior High on the Navajo Reservation. The next year Jim went to the high school to be head of the math department and head wrestling coach. Jim also coached freshman football. After three years in Arizona, Jim and his family moved to Harrisonville, Missouri, where both taught school, Jim coached Junior High football and assistant High School wrestling. In 1978, the family moved to Gallatin, Missouri, where Jim started a wrestling program. Jim taught school in Blue Springs, Missouri for five years. Jim and Vivien were divorced in 1984, after which Jim went back to Chinle to teach on the Navajo reservation again. He also coached three sports - football, basketball and baseball. Jim taught for the Community College for three years in the evening. In 1987, Jim married Beverly Ann Dalton Reynolds. In 1990, Jim went to LPN school. After graduation, Jim went to work at Golden Heights Living Center. He retired from there at age 65, in October of 2005. He had a love for American Indian Culture, and had many interests including gardening, raising doves, nature, genealogy, crocheting, crafts, oil painting and traveling. He also enjoyed volunteer work, and was named Volunteer of the Year in 2007 at Golden Heights Living Center in Garnett. He was a member of the Community Theater, and past President and Vice-President of Chamber Players. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, and was deeply devoted to his religious faith. He taught Sunday School, was on the Trustee board, Vacation Bible School, and member of the Choir. He was preceded in death by his father, Sears North in 1978, his mother Olive North in 1990, three sisters, LaNora, Mary Lou and Olive Mae and brother, Robert Arlo North. Jim is survived by his wife Beverly of the home; two adoptive sons, Troy Dennis North and Gavin Lee North; a step-daughter, Gail Dianne Brocklesby and husband Fred of Woodland Park, Colorado; and a step-son, Daniel Steven Reynolds and wife Traci of Clarksdale, Arizona; three brothers, Don North; John North, his twin; and Glenn North; two sisters, Shirley Garrett and Arlene Birney; two grandchildren, Shilo Rae Brocklesby and Shea Lynn Brocklesby. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on June 9, 2009 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service, Garnett, with inurnment to follow at the Garnett Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chamber Players Community Theater. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com