William 'Jesse' James

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[William "Jesse" James, 86, of Carrier Mills, formerly of Galatia, passed away at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 20, 2010, at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

He was born in Hamilton County to William and Parry (Odle) James. He married Sybil (Perdue) James on July 19, 1943 and she preceded him in death on Dec. 10, 1993.

Jesse was the owner and operator of a dry-cleaning business in Galatia and Carrier Mills for 45 years. He also was a World War II Army veteran, serving in Africa and Europe.

He was a member of the Dorrisville Baptist Church, an avid sports fan, especially a St. Louis Cardinals fan, a basketball referee and baseball umpire. He was active in the Harrisburg Golden Circle and was on the board of directors of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging.

He is survived by his four daughters Kimberly (Kevin) Alexander, Suzanne (Ron) Thompson, Jennifer Richey and Marsha (Larry) Bell; eight grandchildren, Courtney Sudduth, Caitlin Alexander, Christopher Alexander, Sarah Williams, Jared Thompson, Erin Richey Greg Spencer and Stacey Sawicki; and three great-grandchildren, Jamisen Green, Jack Spencer and Georgia Sawicki.

Jesse was preceded by his parents; wife; and a brother, Glen James.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday Jan. 24, 2010, at the Sloan Funeral Home in Galatia with visitation from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010, at the funeral home. The Rev. Harl Cockrum will officiate with burial in the Webber Campground Cemetery.

Memorial may be made to the Harrisburg Golden Circle.