After High School Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army having served two (2) tours and being Honorably Discharged in Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri he moved to Springfield and made Missouri his permanent home.
In 1966 Jim married Rosa Lee (Stevens) DeMaranville, on Christmas Day. He became step-dad, "Pap" to four (4) sons and five (5) daughters, then in 1965 they were blessed to welcome son James Jr "Jimmy". Jim & Rosa enjoyed forty-three (43) years together before her untimely passing on March 12, 2010.
After his military service, Jim owned his own block truck and delivered for Willard Block in Willard, MO. In 1970 he began his employment at Lily Tulip in Springfield. Jim quickly earned the nickname "Sidewinder" from his co-workers, and enjoyed that moniker until his retirement on July 31, 1998.
His retirement coincided with the birth of Jimmy's daughter Talia. Jim was a very proud grandpa to Talia and "Old PaPa" to great grandson Mason (Talia's son).
After Rosa's passing in 2010 Jim and Jimmy became even closer. Jim never missed an event, game, or practice that Talia was participating in. Jim was her biggest cheerleader. He and Jimmy traveled together almost every weekend for those events, then during Talial's off-season they all traveled to Dirt Track – Stock Car Races both locally and throughout the region. They also enjoyed the annual trip back to Friendship, New York for the family reunion. Often bringing along one of Talia's friends to treat them to the 2000 mile round-trip and the adventure to Niagara Falls.
Shortly after Jim arrived in Missouri, his father suddenly passed away on December 13, 1965. Gretchen and her husband Ralph Lanning settled in Republic, Missouri living there until her passing in 2008.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Gretchen and Ed; wife, Rosa Lee; two step-sons, Buddy & Cleotis "Steve"; two step-daughters, Delilah & Donna; brother, Doug; sisters, Joyce & Paula; step-father, Ralph Lanning; and mother-in-law, Anna Mae Stevens.
He is survived by his son James E. Baxter, Jr; granddaughter, Talia: Talia's partner Chase Roberts; great grandson, Mason; two step-sons, Eric (wife Gale) & Bruce DeMaranville; three step-daughters, Violet McElhany, Sharlot Wilson (husband Benny) and Faith Stapp; and abundance of grandkids & great grandkids who endearingly called him "Pap". He will be missed by his church family at Northbridge Church and those that he gathered with daily over coffee at the McDonald's Restaurant on North Kansas Expressway.
Burial Thursday, March 23rd, at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Olive, Missouri.
After High School Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army having served two (2) tours and being Honorably Discharged in Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri he moved to Springfield and made Missouri his permanent home.
In 1966 Jim married Rosa Lee (Stevens) DeMaranville, on Christmas Day. He became step-dad, "Pap" to four (4) sons and five (5) daughters, then in 1965 they were blessed to welcome son James Jr "Jimmy". Jim & Rosa enjoyed forty-three (43) years together before her untimely passing on March 12, 2010.
After his military service, Jim owned his own block truck and delivered for Willard Block in Willard, MO. In 1970 he began his employment at Lily Tulip in Springfield. Jim quickly earned the nickname "Sidewinder" from his co-workers, and enjoyed that moniker until his retirement on July 31, 1998.
His retirement coincided with the birth of Jimmy's daughter Talia. Jim was a very proud grandpa to Talia and "Old PaPa" to great grandson Mason (Talia's son).
After Rosa's passing in 2010 Jim and Jimmy became even closer. Jim never missed an event, game, or practice that Talia was participating in. Jim was her biggest cheerleader. He and Jimmy traveled together almost every weekend for those events, then during Talial's off-season they all traveled to Dirt Track – Stock Car Races both locally and throughout the region. They also enjoyed the annual trip back to Friendship, New York for the family reunion. Often bringing along one of Talia's friends to treat them to the 2000 mile round-trip and the adventure to Niagara Falls.
Shortly after Jim arrived in Missouri, his father suddenly passed away on December 13, 1965. Gretchen and her husband Ralph Lanning settled in Republic, Missouri living there until her passing in 2008.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Gretchen and Ed; wife, Rosa Lee; two step-sons, Buddy & Cleotis "Steve"; two step-daughters, Delilah & Donna; brother, Doug; sisters, Joyce & Paula; step-father, Ralph Lanning; and mother-in-law, Anna Mae Stevens.
He is survived by his son James E. Baxter, Jr; granddaughter, Talia: Talia's partner Chase Roberts; great grandson, Mason; two step-sons, Eric (wife Gale) & Bruce DeMaranville; three step-daughters, Violet McElhany, Sharlot Wilson (husband Benny) and Faith Stapp; and abundance of grandkids & great grandkids who endearingly called him "Pap". He will be missed by his church family at Northbridge Church and those that he gathered with daily over coffee at the McDonald's Restaurant on North Kansas Expressway.
Burial Thursday, March 23rd, at Mt. Olive Cemetery in Olive, Missouri.
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