James Shope

(From Clark Funeral Home)

James Shope, 81, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Freeman Neosho Hospital, Neosho. 

James was born October 14, 1933 on the old Rogers place located five miles west of Welch, OK, the son of Fred McGhee and Mae (Chaney) Shope. James attended Prairie Center District School, Welch High school, Northeastern A&M, Oklahoma Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Seminary and Midwestern Baptist Seminary. He pastored many churches during his ministry, including Timberhill Baptist Church of Welch, OK; FBC of Ashland, OK; FBC of Weleetka, OK; Welch Baptist Church of Welch, OK; FBC of Graham, OK; FBC of Weir, KS; Calvary Baptist in Columbus, KS; Carr Baptist Church of Grove, OK and Swars Prairie Baptist Church of Seneca, MO. He was appointed by the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board in 1965 to serve as Director of Missions in the Tri-County Baptist Association in Kansas and also served on the Twin Valley Association in 1977. He began a weekly radio ministry in 1958 at KHEN of Henryetta, OK and continued it with KVIN in Vinita, OK. He taught the International Sunday School lessons for 12 years over KSEK in Pittsburg, KS. In 1968, he began teaching the lessons over KGGF in Coffeyville, which was called ‘The Words of Life’ and this ministry was concluded in 1989. 

James married Maxine Jinks on October 18, 1953 at the home of Rev. and Mrs. V. F. Cloninger in Chetopa, KS and she survives. James and Maxine have three children who survive, Dan Shope and wife, Tammy of Cumberland City, TN; Darin Shope and wife, Melissa of Wyandotte, OK and Dana Simpson and husband, Jeff of Bentonville, AR; seven grandchildren, Megan Smith and husband, David; Seth Shope and wife, Abby; Natalie Bush and husband, Cooper; Nathaniel Simpson, Tyler Shope, Jordan Shope and Will Shope. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a new born son and sister, Margaret Sue Wynn and husband, Ted.

Visitation

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM, Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Swars Prairie Baptist Church
Hwy DD Seneca, MO

Service

2:00 PM, Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Swars Prairie Baptist Church
Hwy DD s, MO