James A. Sexton

James (Jim) Aubry Sexton, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Peculiar, Missouri after a long battle with COPD and macular degeneration on November 12, 2022.

Jim was born March 5, 1933 on his grandfather’s farm near Oxford, Arkansas in Izard County to Fred and Bethel Maureen (Webb) Sexton. Jim came from a very musical family and by age four he convinced his grandfather to give him an old guitar with one string to strum while his aunts and uncles played. He eventually learned to play several stringed instruments including guitar and mandolin.

In 1938 or 1939 the family moved to Hansen, Idaho where James attended school through the fourth grade. The family then moved to another farm in Kimberly, Idaho where Jim played basketball and football at his school.

The family moved back to Arkansas around 1949 ending Jim’s football career and disrupting his education. A couple years later, the family moved again. This time to Wenatchee, Washington where Jim worked for the railroad, Columbia Ice, and various fruit orchards before moving to the Kansas City area in the 60’s where he spent the rest of his life. In Kansas City, Jim worked at General Motors Leeds Plant, construction pouring concrete, Avon Products, and finally retiring from Pepsi Cola in 1995.

Jim’s hobbies included making music, fishing, gardening, and watching football.

Jim is survived by his wife of nearly 42 years, Harriet Marie (Wiseman) Sexton; son Terry (Pauline) Sexton of Independence MO; daughter Linda Qualls of Independence MO; two step daughters: Verna (Ronald) Price of Climax Springs MO and Cheryl Millican of Edwards MO; four grandchildren: James Benson, Andy Benson, Sarah Islam and Tim Sexton; six step-grandchildren: Heidi Lanksbury, Chris McLaughlin, Sarah Lindgren, Rebecca Hansen, Amanda King, Laura Points; 18 great grandchildren; one great great granddaughter; one sister Sue Wolfe; and a host of nephews, nieces, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Bethel Sexton; two sisters: LaVerne Wallace and Freda Hutchinson; one grandson: Jason Benson.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Wednesday, November 16 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family would like to recommend a donation in Jim’s name to Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care at kchospice.org or the COPD foundation at copdfoundation.org.

Visitation will be 12PM, with services to follow at 1PM, Wednesday, November 16 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd., Kansas City, Missouri; burial in Green Lawn Cemetery.